High Court · 2025

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circunistances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondent No. 1 and 2 in discontinuing the course of Psychology for the academic year 2025-2026 notified in terms of Notification dated 03-10-2025 issued by Respondent No. 2l Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Open University, Prof.G.Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Hyderabad, Rep. by its Secretary, after confirmation of admission of student to the course as illegal, arbitrary and against the principles of Natural Justice amounting to deprivation of education in terms of Art. 21 A of the Constitution of lndia and direct the respondents to continue the Psychology Course for the academic year 2025-2026. lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavil filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the resp,ondents to continue the Psychology Course for the academic year 2025-2026 of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Open University, Prof G Ram Reddy [Marg, Road No. 46, Hyde"abad, Rep. by its Secretary, pending disposal of the above writ petition. Counsel for ttre Petitioner: SRI T.SHARATH Counsel for ttre Respondent No.1: SRI M.P.KASHYAP, SC FOR UGC Counsel for ttre Respondent No.2: SRI D.RAMA KRISHNA, SC FOR UNIV. The Court maCe the following: ORDER ( I I I ! ! i : IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUREPALLI NANDA WRIT PETITION No.314O5 of 2O25 DATE: 23.L2.2O25 BETWEEN: Amrita Amritraj Petitioner And University Grants Commission (UGC), Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, PIN: 110 002, Rep. by its Secretary and another Respondents ORDER Heard Sri T. Sharath, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, Sri M.P. Kashyap, learned Standing Counsel for University Grants Commission appearing on behalf of the respondent No.1 and sri D. Rarna Krishna, learned standing counsel for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar open university appearing on behalf of the respondent No.2. t,|- i 2 SN,J W.P.No.314O5 of 2O25

2. f$e oetitioner aooroached the Court seekino Draver its under: "....to issue a Writ, Order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the respondent Nos. 1 and 2 in discr>ntinuing the course of Psychology for the academic year 2025-2026 notified in terms of Notification dated 03- l0-2O25 issued by Respondent No.2/Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University Prof. G.Ram Reddy Marg Road No. 46, Hydr:rabad Rep. by its Secretary after confirmation of admission of student to the course as illegal arbitrary and against the principles of Natural Justice amounting to deprivation of education in terms of Art. Zt A of the Cons;titution of India and direct the respondents to cont nue the Psychology Course for the academic year 202:;-2026 and to pass.."

3. The case of the oetitioner in brief as oer the avermerrts made in the affidavit filed bv the oetitioner in suooort of the oresent writ oetition is as under: i) In l:ursuance to a notification issued in July 2O2S by the respondent No.2, the petitioner applied for B.A. English with optional :;ubjects Psychology and Sociology and was granted admission after certificate verification and payment of fees. I -;.{ : ,: _ :..jj, rljljiiir+i,ir_ : / 3 sNrJ W.P.No.314O5 of 2O25 ii) subsequently, the University issued a notification stating that in accordance with the UGC guidelines psychology would not be offered in oDL/online mode from the academic year 2025-2026 onwards, and accordingly gave the students the option either to seek a refund or to change the subject. iii) Although the UGC decision was taken on 22.04.2025, the respondents had issued the notification belatedly on 1,2-08.2025 discontinuing the psychology course for the academic year 2025-2026, which was being offered by the 2nd respondent University on the basis of uGC guidelines. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present writ petition.

4. PERUSED THE RECORD A) The levant ause b( ) of the UGC ou t*l L I i l{ 4 sNrJ W.P.No.314O5 of 2O25 "As a special case and considering the academic future and interest of students who are already enrolled in such pro(lrammes, HEIs shall be advised to offer such pro(Jrammes in the hybrid mode, in compliance with the nonns prescribed by the NCAHp.'

5. Learned counsel aopearino on behalf of the @!er mainly outs forth the following submissions:

5.1 The respondent Nos. 1 and 2 cannot discontinue the Psychology course for the academic year 2025-2026 by way of the notification dated 12.08.202s which was issued through the 2nd r,:spondent University.

5.2 The petitioner's admission to the psychology course for the academic year 2025-2026 had arready been confirmed. Therefortl, any subsequent decision of the UGC to discontinue the distance education and online mode for psychology and few other subjects for the July-August 2025 academic session gives rise to a legitimate expectation in favour of the petitioner- to pursue and complete the course for the academic year 202;-2026, and the same cannot be discontinued. I l. ii' B $ 5 SN,J W.P.No.31405 of 2025 Basinq on the aforesaid submissions, learned counsel aooearinq on behalf of the oetitioner contends that the oetitioner is entitled for the relief as praved for in the Dreset writ oetition.

6. Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.1, upon instructionS and referring in particular to the specific UGC guidelines dated 11.08.2025, in particular Clause b (iii), contends that, as a special case, considering the academic future of students who were already enrolled, the HEIs shall be advised to offer the said programmes in hybrid mode in compliance with the norms prescribed by the NCAHP. It is further contended that respondent No. 2 University is bound by the specific guidelines dated 11.08.2025 issued by respondent No. 1-UGC, and therefore, respondent No. 2 University was obligated to continue the Psychology course For the academic year 2025-2026 under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University as per the said guidelines.

7. Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.2 University submits that appropriate orders may be passed in accordance to law, in terms of the UGC guidelines dated 1 1.08.2025. \ Ij I l: 6 SN,J W.P.No.31405 of 2O25 r'.

8. This court opines that the respondent No. 2-University is bourrd by the specific guiderines dated 11.08.2o2s issued by respondent No.1 and, hence therefore, respondent No.2 is under;rn obligation to continue the psychology course for the acadernic year 2025-2026 under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University. e.lN: a) The aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, b) Ttre submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, tearned standing counserl for UGC appearing on beharf of the respondent No.1 and the learned Standing Counsel for Dr. e.n.ambedkar open university appearing on beharf of the resprondent No.2, c) The relevant clause b(iii) of the ucc guidetines dated 1:1.o8.2025 (referred to and extracted above), d) Thr: discussion and ioncrusion as arrived at paragralrh Nos.S to g of the present order, 7 sNrJ W.P.No.31405 of 2025 ( I UGC Guidelines dated 11.O8.2025. in particular. Clause be no order as to costs. Miscellaneous petitions, if doy, pending in this Writ Petition, shall stand closed. /TRUE COPYII SD/-P. PONNA KRISHNA ASSISTANT BreISTRAR /a SECT}U( oFFICER \ To,

3. The Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC); Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, PIN: 110002.

1. Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Open University, Prof. G.Ram Reddy Marg, Road No. 46, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, T.S.

2. One CC to SRI T.SHARATH, Advocate [OPUC] 3. One CC to SRI M.P.KASHYAP, SC FOR UGC [OPUC] 4. One CC to SRI D.RAIvIA KRISHNA, SC FOR UNIV. [OPUC] 5. Two CD Copies BSR BS d i I HIGH CICURT DATED: 2311212025 7 ORDER WP.No.3 1405 of 2025 F HE1 S ?5 {:r x' ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITION, WITHOUT COSTS