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Global Institute of Engineering and Technology v. Anna University

Madras HC6 Jan 2026WP/93/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Anna University directed to notify UGC-conferred autonomous status of three Tamil Nadu engineering colleges under Regulation 4.2, UGC Regulations 2023; follows W.P.No.35 of 2025, confirmed in W.A.Nos.2514, 1778, 1840 of 2025 and SLP(C) 29146, 29057, 29233 of 2025 dismissed; writ petitions allowed on same terms with four weeks to notify; Mahendra Institute of Technology (W.A.No.51 of 2020) line relied on.

What did the court decide?

All writ petitions allowed on the same terms as W.P.No.35 of 2025: direction to the first respondent University (Anna 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 the order; connected Miscellaneous Petitions closed; no order as to costs. ¶66

Global Institute of Engineering and Technology Vs… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the first respondent University (Anna University) is to be directed, in accordance with Regulation 4.2 of the UGC Regulations 2023, to notify the autonomous status conferred on the petitioner colleges by the UGC, and whether these petitions must be disposed of on the same terms as W.P.No.35 of 2025.

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Court's answer

Since identical matters were allowed by this Court in W.P.No.35 of 2025 etc., the Division Bench confirmed those orders and dismissed W.A.No.2514 of 2025, and the Supreme Court dismissed S.L.P. (C).No.29146 of 2025, these matters are also to be allowed on the same terms as in W.P.No.35 of 2025.

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Ratio / Principle

Although the Learned Counsel for the University raises objections formally in these matters, he is not in a position to dispute that the matter has been confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.

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Key takeaways

All these Writ Petitions are allowed on the same terms (as in W.P.No.35 of 2025); there shall be no order as to costs.ratio¶66

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HIGH COURT (D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.) - 06-01-2026 - WP Nos. 93, 94 & 96 of 2026 (common order): Global Institute of Engineering and Technology, CSI College of Engineering and Gojan School of Business and Technology sought mandamus directing Anna University to adhere to Regulation 4.2 of the UGC (Conferment of Autonomous Status) Regulations 2023 and notify the autonomous status conferred on them by UGC orders in No.F.2-10/2023(AC-Policy) dated 02.07.2025, 28.07.2025 and 07.01.2025 respectively. Held: these matters are identical to W.P.No.35 of 2025 etc., which stood confirmed by the Division Bench in W.A.Nos.2514, 1778 and 1840 of 2025 (02.09.2025) and by the Supreme Court dismissing S.L.P.(C)Nos.29146, 29057 and 29233 of 2025 (15.10.2025); the University's objections were merely formal and could not dispute the Supreme Court confirmation. All writ petitions allowed on the same terms, directing notification of autonomous status per Regulation 4.2 within four weeks; no costs. The court acted on the extracted order in W.P.No.35 of 2025, which had relied on Anna University v. Mahendra Institute of Technology and Another, W.A.No.51 of 2020 (FB), confirmed in S.L.P.(Civil) Nos.8324-8325 of 2020, holding that the UGC Regulations exclusively govern grant of autonomous status.

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 06-01-2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY

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WP No. 93, 94 & 96 of 2026

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Global Institute of Engineering and Technology, Represented by its Director-Academics, Melvisharam- 632 509. Ranipet District.

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Petitioner

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Anna University, Represented by its Registrar, Chennai-600 025. 2.University Grants Commission represented by its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110 002

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Respondents

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WP No. 94 of 2026

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CSI College of Engineering, Represented by its Director, Ketti Valley, The Nilgiris 643 215.

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Petitioner

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Anna University, Represented by its Registrar, Chennai-600 025. 2.University Grants Commission, Represented by its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110 002

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Respondents

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WP No. 96 of 2026

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Gojan School of Business and Technology, Represented by its Director, 80, Feet Road, Edapalayam,

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

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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Redhills, Chennai 600 052.

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Petitioner

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Anna University represented by its Registrar, Chennai - 600 025.

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2.University Grants Commission, Represented by its Secretary, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110 002.

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Respondents

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus , directing the first 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 college) 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 02.07.2025 in line with the judgement 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.

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WP No. 94 of 2026

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Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus , directing the first 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 28.07.2025 in line with the judgement 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.

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WP No. 96 of 2026

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

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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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 07.01.2025 in line with the judgement 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

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In all cases For Petitioner: Mr.Kandhan Duraisami For Respondents: Mr.U.Baranidharan, for R1

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Mr.B.Rabu Manohar Senior Central Government Counsel Standing Counsel, UGC, for R2

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COMMON ORDER

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All these writ petitions are for similar reliefs and, as such, are taken up and disposed of by this common order.

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When the matter came up for hearing, it is submitted by the Learned Counsel for the petitioners that in identical matters, orders were passed by this Court in W.P.No.35 of 2025 etc. Aggrieved thereby, the respondent University also filed W.A.No.2514 of 2025 and the Division Bench also confirmed the

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order passed in the writ petitions and dismissed the appeals.

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As a matter of fact, the respondent University also filed S.L.P. (C).No.29146 of 2025 and the same was also dismissed. As such, it can be seen that these matters are also to be allowed on the same terms as in the order

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

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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passed in Writ Petition No.35 of 2025. The relevant portion of the order passed in W.P.No.35 of 2025 etc., is extracted hereunder:

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“5.The role of the parent University is stipulated in

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Regulation 4 of the UGC Regulations, 2023. The relevant portion of the Regulation 4.1 and 4.2 read as follows:

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“4.1 To examine the application of the College for autonomous status on the UGC portal and give its recommendations, along with reasons/justification, within 30 working days on the UGC portal. If the parent University does not respond on the UGC Portal within 30 working days, it shall be presumed that the parent University has no objection to the processing of the application by the UGC for conferment of autonomous status.

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4.2 Issue notification within 30 days for a College to function as an autonomous entity once the autonomous status is conferred on the College by UGC.”

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The learned counsel appearing for the UGC submitted that without considering the objections, the first respondent would not have passed orders conferring autonomous status to the petitioners. The learned counsel further submitted that in case objections were filed beyond 30 days, it could be presumed that the University had no objection under Regulation 4.1.

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

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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7.The submission of the learned counsel appearing for the UGC is recorded and in the light of the said submission and Regulation 4.2 of the UGC Regulation extracted above, the first respondent is bound to issue the notification within 30 days as per Clause 4.2 aforementioned. In this regard, the Judgment of the First Division Bench of this Court in the case of Anna University Vs. Mahendra Institute of Technology and

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Another in W.A.No.51 of 2020 can be usefully referred.

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The Court held as follows:

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“14.In the said background, we are of the opinion that the 2018 Regulations framed by the University Grants Commission in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 12(f), (g), (j) r/w 26(1) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 govern the field, inasmuch as the same is clearly saved as being a Regulation duly authorized having its source in Entry 66 of List I of the Constitution of India. There is no law for the time being relating to the Regulation of grant of autonomous Colleges running contrary to the same either framed under Entry 66 of List I or entry 25 of List III. In the absence of any such legislation to the contrary, we are of the clear opinion that the 2018 Regulations clearly hold the field exclusively in the matters of grant of autonomous status to affiliated Colleges. The resolution of the Syndicate dated 27.05.2014 cannot in any way be said to have an overriding effect or even supplementary effect to the 2018 Regulations, inasmuch as the method of grant of an autonomous status is clearly defined under the 2018 Regulations and the eligibility to obtain such status is also governed by the same.”

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

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WP No. 93 of 2026

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The aforesaid Judgment of the Hon'ble First Division Bench was confirmed by the Supreme Court in S.L.P.(Civil) Nos.8324-8325 of 2020. From a reading of the aforementioned Regulation and the Judgment of the Hon'ble First Division Bench of this Court, it is clear that the first respondent University is bound to issue the notification as mandated by Regulation 4.2 of the UGC Regulations, 2023.

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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.

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