WP/12876/2026 of NELLIANDAVAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Vs ANNA UNIVERSITY

W.P.No.12876 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 01.04.2026 CORAM : THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE W.P.No.12876 of 2026 Nelliandavar Institute of Technology, represented by its Principal, Nerunjikorai, Pudhupalayam, Ariyalur – 621 704. ... Petitioner Vs. 1.Anna University, Rep. by its Registrar, Chennai – 600 025. 2.University Grants Commission, Represented by its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110 002. ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of 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) Regulations 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 26.02.2026 in line with the judgment Page No.1 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12876 of 2026 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.Baranidharan Special Government Pleader [R1] Ms.V .Sudha Senior Central Government Counsel [R2] ***** ORDER The grievance of the petitioner is that despite the 2 nd respondent having granted “autonomous” status to the petitioner, till date, the sam e has not been notified by the 1st respondent University. 2. The petitioner had given several representations to the 1st respondent University to notify the “autonomous” status of the petitioner. Since the representations have not been considered, the petitioner has filed this writ petition. 3. Mr.U.Baranidharan, learned Special Government Pleader, accepts notice on behalf of the 1 st respondent and Ms.V .Sudha, learned Page No.2 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12876 of 2026 Senior Central Government Counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the 2 nd respondent. 4. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the materials available on record. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner drew the attention of this Court to an order dated 05.02.2025 passed in W.P.Nos.35, 38 and 39 of 2025 by a learned Single Judge of this Court involving a similar matter. In those writ petitions as well, a similar relief was sought, as prayed for in this writ petition. Those writ petitions were allowed by this C ourt on 05.02.2025 by directing the 1 st respondet to notify the autonomous status as declared by the 2 nd respondent. He also submits that the order of the learned Single Judge was upheld by the Division Bench of this Court and the Division Bench order was also confirmed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The orders passed by the Division Bench as well as the Hon’bl e Supreme Court have also been placed on record. Page No.3 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12876 of 2026 6. In view of the same, this writ petition has also got to be allowed as prayed for by the petitioner. Accordingly, this Writ Pe tition is allowed by directing the 1st respondent University to notify the “autonomous” status of the petitioner-Institute in terms of the declara tion of autonomous status granted by the 2 nd respondent (UGC) in favour of the petitioner, within a period of four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. 01.04.2026 Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order Neutral Citation Case : Yes/No sp Page No.4 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12876 of 2026 To 1.The Registrar, Anna University, Chennai – 600 025. 2.The Secretary, University Grants Commission, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi – 110 002. Page No.5 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.No.12876 of 2026 ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J. sp W.P.No.12876 of 2026 01.04.2026 Page No.6 of 6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis