IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.No.2383 of 2026 G.Deepan Raj ..Petitioner Vs

1. The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University, No.69, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032.

2. The Controller of Examinations, Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University, No.69, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032.

3. The Principal, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai – 600 003.

4. The Professor & Head, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai – 600 003.

5. The Dental Council of India, Rep. by its Secretary, New Delhi.

(R5- Suo Motu impleaded vide Order Dated

21.01.2026 made in W.P.No.2183/2026)

..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents herein permit the petitioner to submit his examination application for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) University Examination either by re-opening the online examination portal (Galley System) or in the alternative, by accepting the same manually after receipt of the prescribed examination fees from the petitioner and issue the Hall Ticket scheduled on 22.01.2026 and consequentially permit the petitioner to appear for the B.D.S University Examination Scheduled to commence on 03.02.2026 in respect of the sole remaining subject namely Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics (ODS).

For Petitioner: Mr.K.Venkatesh @ Dr.V.K.Swamy For Respondents: Mrs.C.Latharani, Standing Counsel for R1 and R2 Ms.N.Sneha for Mr.E.Sundaram Government Advocate for R3 and R4 Mr.Subramanian Vaidyanathan for R5

ORDER

The writ petition is filed to permit the petitioner to submit his examination application for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery ( B.D.S) either by reopening the online examination portal or in the alternative, accepting the same manually after receipt of the prescribed examination fees from the petitioner and issuing the hall ticket for the examination that is scheduled to commence from 03.02.2026.

2.Upon hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner and perusing the material records of the case, it can be seen that the petitioner joined the B.D.S course in the academic year 2014. He has also cleared the first B.D.S in February 2015 itself and the second B.D.S by February 2016 and the third B.D.S by 2018. Only in the final B.D.S, now one paper is remaining. Merely because there were interruptions, the University is asking for condonation etc., and by quoting the wrong rule as if the petitioner has to complete the course within a period of nine years, the petitioner is not being permitted to write the examination. Therefore, the petitioner is before this Court.

3. The writ petition is resisted by the respondent authorities by filing separate counter affidavits. It can be seen that even though originally they were under the impression that the nine year rule is applicable to the petitioner also, now it is realised that since the petitioner was admitted in the year 2014, it is the erstwhile rule that is applicable to him and not the new rule which came into force only with effect from 2015. As per the erstwhile rule, the limitation was only to clear the first B.D.S within a period of three years and thereafter there is no outer limit. Therefore, this petitioner is not restricted by any outer limit. However, the second argument that is made is by placing the attendance with reference to the said subject, it is stated that the student attended the subject in the year 2022 and the tabular column is given as follows:

Subject :: Clinical Posting Sl.No. Posting Date Total Attendance Percentage Remarks Working of Days Attendance

1 03.01.2022 to 11 days 5 days

15.01.2022

2 25.04.2022 to 12 days 03 days

07.05.2022

3 02.08.2022 to 26 days 11 days Less than

31.08.2022 31.7% 75 % not

4 02.02.2023 to 09 days 00 days Eligible

12.02.2023

5 27.06.2024 to 24 days 00 day