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Sakthivel M v. Director of Legal Studies

Madras HC21 Apr 2026WMP(MD)/8918/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Aadhaar not mandatory for LLB examination registration; alternative identity proofs (Voter ID, PAN Card, driving licence) to be accepted; interim order under Article 226; UMIS Portal non-registration; hall ticket issued per earlier order dated 17.03.2026; Director of Legal Studies; Government Law College Madurai; Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University (suo motu impleaded 24.02.2026); compliance deadline 24.04.2026; next posting 27.04.2026.

What did the court decide?

Interim direction to respondents 1 and 3 to complete the petitioner's examination registration and payment of examination fees for the LLB three-year course semester examinations without insisting on Aadhaar, accepting alternative public documents (Voter ID, PAN Card, driving licence etc.), on or before 24.04.2026; matter posted to 27.04.2026. ¶29

Sakthivel M Vs Director of Legal Studies — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether respondents 1 and 3 may insist on Aadhaar as a compulsory condition for LLB examination registration and payment of examination fees, or must accept alternative officially valid identity proofs such as Voter ID, PAN Card, Driving Licence or other officially valid identity proof.

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Court's answer

Furnishing of Aadhaar card is not mandatory, since the petitioner is not claiming any concession or exemption from the respondents.

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Ratio / Principle

If the petitioner produces other public documents such as Voters ID card and driving licence, respondents 1 and 3 are directed to complete the examination registration and payment of examination fees without insisting upon Aadhaar, accepting alternative public documents like Voter ID, PAN Card and driving licence, and to finish this exercise on or before 24.04.2026.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) - Hemant Chandangoudar J. - Interim order in W.M.P(MD)No.8918 of 2026 in W.P(MD)No.1377 of 2026 (Sakthivel M v. Director of Legal Studies and others). For the LLB three-year course semester examinations, the Court held that furnishing of Aadhaar is not mandatory where the candidate claims no concession or exemption from the institutions. Respondents 1 and 3 (Director of Legal Studies; Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University) were directed to complete the petitioner's examination registration and fee payment without insisting on Aadhaar, accepting alternative public documents such as Voter ID, PAN Card and driving licence, on or before 24.04.2026, and the matter was posted to 27.04.2026. An earlier order of the same Court dated 17.03.2026 had already directed issuance of the hall ticket despite the petitioner's non-registration on the UMIS Portal.

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W.M.P(MD)No.8918 of 2026

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 21-04-2026 CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR

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WMP(MD) NO. 8918 of 2026

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W.P(MD)No.1377 of 2026

1.Sakthivel M

Petitioner(s)

The Director of Legal Studies Purasawalkam High Road Kilpauk Chennai - 600 010.

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The Principal Government Law College Dr. SVKS Thangaraj Salai Road Tallakulam Madurai - 625 020.

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The Tamil Nadu Dr.Ambedkar Law No.5 Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai Raja Annamalaipuram Chennai -600 028. (R3 is suo motu impleaded vide court order dated 24.02.2026 in WP(MD)No.1377 of 2026 by RVJ)

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Respondent(s)

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1/5

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.M.P(MD)No.8918 of 2026

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Prayer:

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Prayer: Writ Miscellaneous Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to Grant an interim order, to direct the 1st and 3rd respondents to facilitate to the petitioner complete the examination registration and payment of examination fee without insisting upon providing Aadhaar information, as a compulsory condition and direct the respondents to accept alternative identity proofs, such as Voter ID, PAN Card, Driving Licence, or any other officially valid identity proof, for the purpose of examination application and verification.

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For Petitioner :Mr.M.Sakthivel Party in person

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For Respondents :Mr.N.Ramesh Arumugam, Government Advocate for R1 and R2

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Mr.B.Brijesh Kishore Standing Counsel for R3

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ORDER

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This Court by order, dated 17.03.2026, directed the respondents to

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issue hall ticket to the Petitioner, if he is otherwise eligible, notwithstanding his non-registration on the UMIS Portal and with reference to UMIS Portal. The Petitioner intends to write the ensuring examination. However, the respondent No.1 and 3 are insisting for furnishing of Aadhar Card as a compulsory condition for registration and

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2/5

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.M.P(MD)No.8918 of 2026

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payment of examination fees for the first and second semester examination for LLB three year Course. Furnishing of Aadhaar card is not mandatory since the Petitioner is not claiming any concession or exemption from the respondents.

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If the Petitioner produces the other public documents like Voters ID card, driving license etc, the first and third respondents are directed to complete the examination registration and payment of examination fees without insisting upon the production of Adhaar information and accept the other public documents like Voter ID, card PAN Card and driving license etc. The respondents 1 and 3 shall complete the above said exercise on or before 24.04.2026.

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