High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDismissed

Remya Remesh v. Vice Chancellor, Cochin University of Science and Technology, and others

Case / Petition Number:WP(C).No. 25418 of 2014 (B)

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • K. Vinod Chandran
Judgment Date
2014-10-29
Court Decision / Holding
Writ petition is, hence, dismissed.
Final Disposition
Dismissed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Remya Remesh

Respondents

  • Vice Chancellor, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi
  • Cochin University of Science and Technology, represented by Registrar, Kochi
  • Principal School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri. B. Ragunathan
  • • Sri. G. Gopalakrishnan Pillai
  • • Sri. M. Salim
  • • Sri. R. Srinath
  • • Sri. M. M. Lalbind
  • • Sri. V. M. Jacob

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri. Millu Dandapani, SC

Case Synopsis & Summary

Remya Remesh, the petitioner, challenged Ext.P12 which expelled her from the university rolls for her inability to satisfy eligibility for the Common Admission Test (CAT) for 2014. She had been provisionally admitted on spot admission to the M.Tech (Full-Time) program in Electronics and Communication (Wireless Technology) at the School of Engineering of Cochin University, affiliated to the respondent University. At admission, her mark-list was not produced; after the mark-list was produced, the University found that she had failed the sixth semester B.Tech examination and had also appeared for supplementary examinations along with the final-year eighth semester examinations. Consequently, she was deemed ineligible to sit for CAT as per Ext.P13. The petitioner contends that the admission was made after verification of the mark-list and that cancellation would penalize a student who had later completed the graduate degree and participated in the admissions process in good faith. The University counters that Ext.P13 clearly limits eligibility to those who have completed the qualifying graduate degree and who have appeared for final-year examinations, with relaxation only for those whose final-year results were pending publication; admissions done on spot and without proper verification cannot be regularized. The court relies on Ashok Chand Singhvi v. University of Jodhpur (1989) but distinguishes it; it finds no fault in the university’s actions and upholds cancellation. The writ petition is dismissed.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

Petitioner contends that the admission to the M.Tech program was undertaken on spot admission after verification of the mark-list, and that Ext.P12 cancelling her admission was issued without adequate notice or opportunity. She argues that she had already appeared for final-year examinations and supplementary papers, had completed the graduate degree, and should be permitted to continue in the post-graduate course; the relaxation in eligibility was intended for candidates whose final-year results were pending publication and should cover those awaiting results, not a candidate who knowingly participated without meeting the stated criteria.

Contentions of Respondents

Respondents submit that Ext.P13 strictly requires graduation and appearance in the final-year examinations for eligibility to sit CAT, with relaxation limited to cases where final-year results were pending publication. They contend the petitioner admitted herself without meeting the eligibility criteria and that spot admission was done without proper verification of documents; Ext.R1(a) shows the petitioner’s obligation to produce the mark-list by a specified date. The university’s position is that the relaxation cannot blanket non-fulfillment of the eligibility criteria, and Ext.P12 cancellation was in accordance with the rules and prospectus.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Ashok Chand Singhvi v. University of Jodhpur and another1989 (1) S.C.C. 399DistinguishedThe Supreme Court decision dealt with cancellation of admission due to the authorities’ mistake in verifying documents; regularisation was directed where the candidate concealed no information. The Kerala High Court distinguishes this scenario, finding no fault by the university and that the relaxation does not apply to the petitioner, thus distinguishing the cited case.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT:** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.VINOD CHANDRAN** **WEDNESDAY, THE 29TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2014/7TH KARTHIKA, 1936** ## **WP(C).No. 25418 of 2014 (B)** ## **----------------------------** ## **PETITIONER:** **------------------** **REMYA REMESH, CHAKKANATTU HOUSE, KOVILAKATHUMKADAVU, VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM-686 141.** **BY ADVS.SRI.B.RAGUNATHAN SRI.G.GOPALAKRISHNA PILLAI SRI.M.SALIM SRI.R.SRINATH SRI.M.M.LALBIND SRI.V.M.JACOB** **RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------** **1. VICE CHANCELLOR, COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KOCHI-682 022.** **2. COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR, COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KOCHI-682 022.** **3. PRINCIPAL SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, COCHIN UNIVERISTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KOCHI-682 022.** **R1TO R3 BY SRI.MILLU DANDAPANI, SC** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 29-10-2014, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** **mbr/** ## **WP(C).No. 25418 of 2014 (B)** ## **---------------------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS: -------------------------------------** - **P1: TRUE COPY OF THE COURSE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE PRINCIPAL, MANGALAM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DATED 12.6.2014.** - **P2: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION I AND II SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN MAY, 2011 DATED 16.11.2011.** - **P3: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THYE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION III SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER, 2011 DATED 26.3.2012.** - **P4: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION III SEMESTER - IMPROVEMENT/SUPPLEMENTARY IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN DECEMBER, 2012 DATED 6.6.2013.** - **P5: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION IV SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN MAY, 2012 DATED 7.11.2012.** - **P6: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION VTH SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN DECEMBER, 2012 DATED 6.6.2013.** - **P7: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION VITH SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN MAY, 2013 DATED 11.12.2013.** - **P8: TRUE COPY OF THE GRADE CARD OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION VIITH SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER, 2013 DATED 5.4.2014.** - **P9: TRUE COPY OF THE RESULT SHEET OF THE PETITIONER OF B.TECH DEGREE EXAMINATION VIIITH SEMESTER IN THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED IN MAY, 2014.** - **P10: TRUE COPY OF THE GATE 2014 SCORECARD DATED 28.3.2014.** - **P11: TRUE COPY OF PROVISIONAL ADMISSION CERTIFICATE DATED 5.7.2014 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER BY THE DIRECTOR, IRAA.** - **P12: TRUE COPY OF THE MEMO ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER DATED 19.9.2014.** - **P13: TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGE OF PROSPECTUS DEALING WITH ADMISSION PROCEDURE.** - **P14: TRUE COPY OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO SPOT ADMISSION PUBLISHED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.** **pto** ## **WP(C).No. 25418 of 2014 (B)** --------------------------------------- **P15: TRUE COPY OF THE RESULT SHEET (MARK LIST) OF THE SIXTH SEMESTER SUPPLEMENTARY EXAM CONDUCTED IN MAY,2014.** ## **RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS:** **EXT.R1(a):TRUE COPY OF THE UNDERTAKING SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER AND HER MOTHER.** **EXT.R1(b):TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES RELATING TO THE MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY COURSE REGULATION FOR B.TECH DEGREE COURSE WITH EFFECT FROM 2010 DMISSIONS DOWNLOADED FROM THE WEBSITE.** **//TRUE COPY//** **P.S. TO JUDGE** **mbr** ## **K. Vinod Chandran, J.** ==================================== W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 ==================================== Dated this the 29[th] day of October, 2014. ## **JUDGMENT** 1. Petitioner is aggrieved with Ext.P12, which removed the petitioner from the rolls of the respondent University. The admitted facts are that; the petitioner was provisionally admitted to M.Tech (Full Time), 2014 in Electronics and Communication (Wireless Technology) in the School of Engineering, affiliated to the respondent University, on spot admission. At the time of admission, no mark-list was produced and the petitioner was provisionally admitted, subject to production of mark-list. When the mark-list was produced, subsequently it was noticed by the respondent University that the petitioner had failed in the sixth semester B.Tech examination and had appeared for the supplementary examination along with the final year 8[th] semester examination of the graduate degree. The petitioner was, hence, found to be ineligible to apply for the Common Admission Test of 2014 as per the admission procedure W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 -:2:- prescribed in the prospectus of the University at Ext.P13. It was also in consequence of such disqualification in threshold eligibility; that the petitioner was issued with Ext.P12. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that, in fact, the admission was made by the University after verifying the entire mark-list and the petitioner, having been admitted and continued for sometime in the course, cannot be sent away, merely for the reason that, she had not qualified in the regular 6[th] semester examinations. The petitioner, having qualified in the supplementary examinations along with final year examination, is a graduate degree holder, who is entitled to continue in the post-graduate course, is the contention. Learned counsel would contend that, Ext.P12 was issued without notice to the petitioner. 3. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondent University would further rely on Ext.P13, to contend that, only those persons who had appeared for the final year examinations in their graduate course and W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 -:3:- whose results were not published is entitled to appear for Common Admission Test to the post-graduate course in the respondent University. The prescription for admission to the post-graduate course is a graduate degree and only those persons, who had a graduate degree could be considered for participation in the Common Admission Test. The relaxation in the regulation was only considering the fact that the results of the final year examinations would not be published in all the Universities and those persons who were awaiting results, would not then be able to appear for the Common Admission Test. 4. The prescription in Ext.P13 is very clear. Only students, who had appeared in the final semester of the qualifying graduate degree were permitted to appear for the Common Admission Test and that too, only if they had appeared for the examinations and the results were pending publication. The petitioner had, with open eyes, applied for the same, knowing fully well that she was not qualified to participate W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 -:4:- in the Common Admission Test. Petitioner's contention, that the mark-lists were produced and the University had verified the same before admitting the petitioner, is belied by the undertaking in Ext.R1(a). Petitioner, admittedly, was a student, who was admitted on spot admission when verification of mark-list and certificate was not carried out and the petitioner had undertaken production of the same. Ext.R1(a) indicates that the petitioner was obliged to produce the mark-list on or before 20.7.2014. The respondent University submits that they had waited for the production of the mark-list till Ext.P12 was passed only since, the petitioner was appointed to a reserved vacancy and the last date of admissions being over, no other candidate could be accommodated thereon. This Court is of the opinion that the petitioner had appeared for the examination knowing fully well that she was not eligible to participate in the Common Admission Test. 5. Learned counsel for the University relies on the decision of the W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 -:5:- Honourable Supreme Court in Ashok Chand Singhvi v. University of Jodhpur and another (1989 (1) S.C.C. 399), wherein admission made was cancelled only for the mistake of the authorities in verifying the mark-list and for having admitted the candidate after the last date prescribed. When a candidate conceals nothing from the University, it was held that the admission cannot be cancelled. The student was found to have the eligibility of 60% marks in the Diploma examination. Since the admission after last date itself was a mistake committed by the authorities on the strength of a resolution, which was contrary to the University statutes, the Hon'ble Supreme Court directed regularisation of admission. 6. No such fault on the part of the authorities is discernible herein. The prospectus, relied on by the University, was clear and lucid. It was specifically laid down that the eligibility for application to the Common Admission test is for the students, who have passed qualifying examinations prescribed under the eligibility criteria, i.e. W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 -:6:- graduate examination, herein, B.Tech. The relaxation was only with respect to students, who had appeared for the final year examination and whose results were not declared. Hence, only a student, who had qualified in all the earlier semesters and the results of the final year examination was awaited, could actually apply for the Common Admission Test. The relaxation was only to those who had appeared for the final year examination and whose results were not published. The petitioner, having failed in the 2[nd] semester examination, had also presumably failed in the supplementary examinations, held later during the graduate course, which resulted in her appearing for the 2[nd] semester supplementary examinations held along with the final year examinations. The petitioner, not coming within the relaxation granted to the eligibility criteria, there is no question of the petitioner being admitted merely because she had participated in the Common Admission Test. A candidate who had just completed the graduate course; otherwise qualified for admission, but, would be disentitled W.P.(C)No.25418 of 2014 -:7:- only for reason of non-publication of final year results alone was entitled to the relaxation. 7. The admission made was also a spot admission without verification of the mark-list and only when the mark-lists were produced, the University came to know of her failure in the 2[nd] semester examinations and subsequent appearance along with the final year examinations. Evidently, the petitioner, who was granted spot admission had not produced the original mark-list or certificate of the qualifying examination at the time of admission. The University specifically points to the guile employed by the petitioner in applying for the Common Admission Test; against the regulation. Under such circumstances, there is no warrant for any interference in the cancellation of admission made by the University. Writ petition is, hence, dismissed. **K. Vinod Chandran, Judge.** sl.