IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 22-01-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY N.Thiripurasundari ..Petitioner Vs.

1. Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) -

Government of Puducherry, Kamarajar Manimandapam, near Sivaji Statue, Karuvadikuppam, Puducherry - 605 008.

2. Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College, (AGLC) Mathur Road, Kalapet, Pondicherry- 605 014.

3. SMVEC - Centre of Legal Education, Mannadipet Commune, Madagadipet, Pondicherry- 605 107.

4. The Pondicherry University, Represented by its Registrar, Kalapet, Pondicherry - 605 014.

(R4 - Suo Motu impleaded vide Order dated 07.01.2026 made in W.P.No.50049 of 2025)

5. The Bar Council of India, Rep. by its Chairman, New Delhi.

(R5- Suo Motu impleaded vide Order dated

09.01.2026 made in W.P.No.50049 of 2025)

..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to act on the representation letter dated 03.12.2025 and admit the petitioner into the one (1) Vacant seat in BA.LL.B (Law- general program) under the second respondent college within a time frame set by this Court. For Petitioner: Ms.Meenakshi AN For Respondents: Mr.Kumaran, Additional Government Pleader (Pondy) for R1 to R2 Mr.Balavijayan for R3 Mr.M.Ravi for R4 Mr.S.R.Raghunathan Standing Counsel for R5

ORDER

The writ petition is filed for a mandamus directing the first respondent to act on the representation of the petitioner dated 03.12.2025 and to admit the petitioner to one vacant seat in the B.A. LL.B. (Law – General Programme) under the second respondent college within the time frame as directed by this Court.

2. Upon hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and perusing the material records of the case, the grievance of the petitioner is that she applied for admission to the law course through CENTAC for the academic year 2025– 2026. Though the petitioner is fully eligible and qualified and though there is one vacancy in the second respondent / Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College and three vacancies in the third respondent SMVEC Law College, which come within the CENTAC allotment, due to sheer administrative inefficiency, candidates were not called for any mop-up counselling and the seats were not allotted. The petitioner was knocking at their doors all along. After repeated representations, the petitioner has come before this Court.

3. When the matter came up for hearing, on behalf of the Government of Puducherry as well as the Government Law College, it was admitted that there is one seat vacant. It was stated that it may not be correct that the petitioner is the next meritorious candidate. However, the third respondent college is also willing to admit the petitioner. The further submission of the learned Additional Government Pleader for the first and second respondents is that now the first semester itself is over, the examinations have also been conducted and the last date for admitting students and reporting the matter in the Bar Council of India portal is also over and therefore, as on date, admission cannot be granted to the petitioner.

4. The learned counsel for the Bar Council of India submitted that the last date for uploading admissions in the portal is over. However, there are requests from several quarters and there is a likelihood that the portal may be opened for a short while. All the respondents also submitted that the attendance criteria is mandatory, without which the petitioner cannot undertake the first-semester examinations.

5. I have considered the rival submissions made on either side and perused the material records of the case.

6. It can be seen that there is a vacancy of one seat in the second respondent Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College and three seats in the third respondent private college. Both the colleges are willing to admit the petitioner, provided the other statutory requirements are satisfied. T