A university is legally obligated under the UGC Regulations, 2023, to notify the autonomous status of a college within the stipulated period once such status has been granted by the University Grants Commission.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 20.05.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.R. SWAMINATHAN Asian College of Engineering and Technology, rep. by its Chairman, Kondayampalayam, near Saravanampatti, Coimbatore 641 110. ..Petitioner Vs.

1. Anna University, rep. by its Registrar, Chennai 600 025.

2. University Grants Commission, rep. by its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002. ..Respondents Prayer: Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issue of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1^st respondent herein to scrupulously adhere to Regulation 4.2 of University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon colleges and measures for maintenance of standards in autonomous colleges) Regulation, 2023 and forthwith notify the autonomous status granted to the petitioner college in the order of the University Grants Commission in No.F.2-10/2023 (AC- Policy) dated 17.04.2026 in line with the judgment in W.A. Nos. 2514, 1778 and 1840 of 2025 dated 02.09.2025 and the order of the Supreme Court in S.L.P(C) Nos. 29146, 29057 and 29233 of 2025 dated 15.10.2025.

For Petitioner :: Mr. Kandhan Duraisami For Respondents :: Mr.U. Bharanidharan for R1 Ms.V. Sudha, Sr. Central Govt. Standing Counsel for R2 O R D E R Heard both sides.

2. The writ petitioner College was granted autonomous status by the University Grants Commission (‘UGC’ in short) on

17.04.2026. As per Regulation 4.2 of UGC Regulations, 2023, the 1^st respondent University has to notify the autonomous status granted to the petitioner college within a period of four weeks thereafter. Since the 1^st respondent University has not done so, the present writ petition has been filed.

3. The issue raised in this writ petition is no longer res integra. The learned counsel for the petitioner has enclosed a catena of earlier orders on the very same subject. One such order is dated 05.02.2025 made in W.P. Nos. 35, 38 and 39 of 2025 and paragraph No.9 of the said order reads as follows:

‘9. In view of the above discussion and under the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the view that the Writ Petitions deserve to be allowed. Hence, the Writ Petitions are allowed with a direction to the first respondent University to notify the autonomous status granted to the petitioner Colleges’ as per Regulation 4.2 of the UGC Regulations, 2023, within a period of four weeks, from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.’

G.R. SWAMINATHAN,J.

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4. In view of the above, I direct the 1^st respondent University to notify the autonomous status granted to the writ petitioner College as per Regulation 4.2 of the UGC Regulations, 2023 within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. The writ petition stands allowed. No costs.