Kannan Vs The Registrar — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

Kannan Vs The Registrar — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with directions to the respondents to consider the candidature of K. Muneeshswathi (Application No. ALC52653574) and allot a seat in the Five-Year Integrated B.A., LL.B. Degree Course - preferably at Government Law College, Madurai, otherwise at Government Law College, Theni before the second round of counselling - subject to her eligibility, merit, communal reservation and availability of vacancies, the exercise to be completed within two weeks of receipt of the order; no order as to costs; connected miscellaneous petitions (W.M.P.(MD).Nos.14192 and 14194 of 2026) closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Court should issue a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent (Registrar, Dr.Ambedkar Law University) to issue an allotment order to the petitioner's daughter K. Muneeshswathi (Application No. ALC52653574) under the MBC/DNC quota for the Five-Year Integrated B.A., LL.B. course at Government Law College, Madurai, notwithstanding her delayed upload of certificates during the counselling process.

Ratio / Principle

Considering the facts, particularly that the petitioner's daughter had secured marks higher than the prescribed cut-off for the relevant communal category (MBC/DNC), the Court held that the ends of justice would be met by directing the respondents to consider her candidature for allotment against the available vacancies.

Key takeaways

The respondents were directed to consider the candidature of K. Muneeshswathi (Application No. ALC52653574) and allot her a seat in the Five-Year Integrated B.A., LL.B. Degree Course, preferably at Government Law College, Madurai if a vacancy is available; failing that, at Government Law College, Theni before commencement of the second round of counselling, subject to her eligibility, merit, communal reservation and availability of vacancies.ratio¶44
The contemplated allotment exercise shall be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶48

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

W.P(MD)No.19195 of 2026 (with W.M.P.(MD).Nos.14192 and 14194 of 2026), disposed of on 09.07.2026 by M. Dhandapani J., Madras High Court (Madurai Bench). Kannan sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the Registrar of Dr.Ambedkar Law University to issue an allotment order to his daughter K. Muneeshswathi (Application No. ALC52653574) under the MBC/DNC quota for the Five-Year Integrated B.A., LL.B. course at Government Law College, Madurai. She had applied on 19.05.2026 after scoring 534 marks in the Higher Secondary Examination; her cut-off of 93.5 exceeded the prescribed MBC/DNC cut-off of 88.375. She missed the 18.06.2026 e-mail requiring upload of scanned certificates, noticed it on 20.06.2026 at about 6.00 p.m., uploaded then and again on 22.06.2026 with an apology letter attributing the delay to technical/server issues; her 06.07.2026 representation went unanswered. Finding her marks higher than the prescribed cut-off, the Court held the ends of justice met by directing the respondents to consider her candidature against available vacancies: a seat preferably at Government Law College, Madurai, failing which at Government Law College, Theni before the second round of counselling, subject to eligibility, merit, communal reservation and vacancy, completion within two weeks of receipt of the order. Disposed of without costs; miscellaneous petitions closed.

W.P(MD)No.19195 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 09.07.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI

W.P(MD)No.19195 of 2026 and

W.M.P.(MD).Nos.14192 and 14194 of 2026

Kannan ... Petitioner(s)

vs.

1.The Registrar, Dr.Ambedkar Law University, No.5, Poompozhil, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai,

Chennai-28.

2.The Chairman, Dr.Ambedkar Law University, No.5, Poompozhil, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai,

Chennai-28.

3.The Principal, Government Law College, Madurai.

... Respondent(s)

PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to

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issue allotment order to the petitioner's daughter K.Muneeshswathi (application No.ALC52653574) under MBC/DNC Quota for the five years B.A.LLB course at Government Law College, Madurai.

For Petitioner : Mr.R.Venkatesan For R-1 & R-2 : Mr.K.P.Krishnadoss, Standing Counsel For R-3 : Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff, Counsel for State

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to issue allotment order to the petitioner's daughter K.Muneeshswathi (application No.ALC52653574) under MBC/DNC Quota for the five years B.A.LLB course at Government Law College, Madurai.

2. Heard Mr. R.Venkatesan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner; Mr. K.P.Krishnadoss, learned Standing Counsel, who takes notice on behalf of respondent Nos.1 and 2 and Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff, learned counsel for State, who takes notice on behalf of the third respondent.

3. By consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

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4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner belongs to the Denotified Community. His daughter, namely, K. Muneeshswathi, completed her Higher Secondary Course and secured 534 marks in the Higher Secondary Examination. She applied online on 19.05.2026 for admission to the Five-Year Integrated B.A., LL.B. Degree Course pursuant to the admission notification issued by the respondents.

5. It is the further submission of the learned counsel that the counselling for admission to the Five-Year Integrated Law Course commenced on 18.06.2026. The petitioner's daughter secured a cut-off mark of 93.5, whereas the cut-off mark prescribed for the MBC/DNC category was 88.375. Therefore, she was well within the zone of consideration for admission.

6. According to the petitioner, on 18.06.2026, the first respondent sent an e- mail directing the candidates to upload scanned copies of their original certificates through the online portal for the first round of counselling. Unfortunately, the petitioner's daughter noticed the e-mail only on 20.06.2026 at about 6.00 p.m. and immediately uploaded the required documents. However, by that time, the certificate verification process for other candidates had already been completed and no further communication was received from the respondents.

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7. The learned counsel further submitted that, in order to rectify the delay,

the petitioner's daughter once again uploaded all the required documents on 22.06.2026 along with an apology letter explaining the circumstances for the delayed upload. According to the petitioner, the delay had occurred due to technical/server-related issues, and not on account of any wilful negligence on her part. Thereafter, she waited for the allotment order. However, no allotment was issued.

8. Aggrieved by the inaction of the respondents, the petitioner's daughter submitted a detailed representation dated 06.07.2026 requesting the respondents to consider her candidature and issue an allotment order. Since the said representation did not evoke any response, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

9. Per contra, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondent Nos.1 and 2 submitted that the petitioner's daughter has secured marks higher than the prescribed cut-off for the MBC/DNC category and, therefore, her candidature is otherwise eligible for consideration. He further submitted that the petitioner's

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daughter had sent the required documents only through e-mail on 22.06.2026. He further submitted that if any vacancy is available during the counselling process, an allotment would be made to her strictly in accordance with the applicable rules and merit.

10. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that the petitioner's daughter has secured marks higher than the prescribed cut-off for the relevant communal category, this Court is of the view that the ends of justice would be met by directing the respondents to consider her candidature for allotment against the available vacancies.

11. Accordingly, the respondents are directed to consider the candidature of the petitioner's daughter, K. Muneeshswathi (Application No.ALC52653574), and allot her a seat in the Five-Year Integrated B.A., LL.B. Degree Course, preferably at the Government Law College, Madurai, if a vacancy is available. In the event no vacancy is available at the Government Law College, Madurai, the respondents shall consider allotting her a seat at the Government Law College, Theni, before commencement of the second round of counselling, subject to her

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eligibility, merit, communal reservation, and availability of vacancies. Such exercise shall be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

12. With the above direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

09.07.2026

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes TSG To 1.The Registrar, Dr.Ambedkar Law University, No.5, Poompozhil, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai, Chennai-28.

2.The Chairman, Dr.Ambedkar Law University, No.5, Poompozhil, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran Salai, Chennai-28.

3.The Principal,

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W.P(MD)No.19195 of 2026

Government Law College, Madurai.

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M.DHANDAPANI,J.

TSG

ORDER MADE IN W.P(MD)No.19195 of 2026

DATED : 09.07.2026

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