A. Bharath Chandra Reddy v. 1. The State of Telangana

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of 'Writ of Mandamus a) Declaring the action of the Respondent No.4 in refusing to promote the Petitioner to the 3rd year of B.Sc. (Hons.) by issuing Memo No. 01O/Age, PalemtAcad.12025 dated 03-09-2025, despite his medical condition as being bad, arbitrary, illegal and violative of Article'14 and 21-A of the Constitution of lndia and in violation of the Rules 8s Bye laws of the University and set aside the same. b) Consequentiatly direct the Respondents to permit the Petitioner to pursue his academic career in the stream of B-Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture by granting special relaxation under Regulation 7.2(b) or Regulation 18.0 of the Regulations Governing Undergraduate Programs of consideration his nred ical condition. the University )y duly taking into lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under section i 51 cpc praying that in the cirlumstances stated rn the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High court m,;y be pteased to Direct the Respondent No.4 to promote the petitioner to the third yirar and permit him to appear in backlog subjects for first and second year, by r:<listering for the third year of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture program at Agricultural Co ege, paiem. Counsel for the Petitioner(s):SRt. pRANATHt REDDy L Counsel forthe Respondents No. 1: Gp FOR EDUCATTON counsel for the Respondents No's 2 to 4: sRl VEDA vIKAS MUDIRAJ. uppARl 9C fOR Professor Jayashankar, Telangana Sate Agricultural University (PJTSAU), The Court made the following: ORDER n ORDER: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUREPALLI NANDA IT PETIT No.3 2 2 Heard Smt. L. Pranathi Reddy, learned counsel appearing on behalf of petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Education, appearing on behalf of respondent No.l and Sri Veda Vikas Mudiraj Uppari, learned Standing Counset for professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTSAU), appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.2 to 4.

2. The petationer approached the Court seeking prayer as under: "...to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Wnt of Mandamus a) Declaring the action of the Respondent No.4 in refusing to promote the Petitioner to the 3'd year of B.Sc. (Hons.) by issuing Memo No.010/Age, Palem/ Acad./202S dated 03- 09-2025, despite his medical condition as being bad, arbitrary, illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 21-A of the Constitution of India and in vioiation of the Rules & Bye laws of the University and set aside the same and b) Consequentially direct the Respondents to permit the Petitioner to pursue his academic career in the stream of B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture by granting special relaxation ) SN..I rp r3{69 J025 under Regulation 7.2(b) or Regulation 1[] l Regulations Governing Undergraduate Prog r.rnr s University by duly taking into consideration h s condition and of the of the med ica I c) Pass any such other order orders as this Hcn'ble Court may deem fit and Proper". The case of the petitioner in brief, is that :lre petitioner 3, was admitted to B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture Programme at professor -Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultur-al University (plTSAU), Rajendranagar for the Academic Ye'ar 2020-21. Thereafter the petitioner suffered from neurologtir:al disorder (focal epilepsy/seizures) with repeated attacks anc continuing clinical follow-ups. The health condition of the petitioner had worsened severely during covid-19 pandemic year:; 2020-2022, consequently, the petitioner could not clear off all I't year and 2"d backlogs as on September, 2025. The respondent No.4 issued Memo No.010/Agc., Palem/Acad./2025, dated 03.09.2025 refusing the petitioner to promote to the 3'd year of B.Sc. (Hons) without considering the representations and medical evidence of the petitioner. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached the Court by filing the present writ petitro'1. - _) SN. J wp 11469 2025 It is the specific case of the petitioner that petitioner is a

4. student suffering from neurological disorder (commonly referred to as seizures or 'fitsTscissors), which has had a considerable impact on petitioner's academic life and personal well being and during the pandemic, the health of the petitioner was seriously affected due to isolation, stress and limited medical access and therefore, the petitioner's academic performance and examination readiness were extensively disrupted. Later on the petitioner made several representations requesting the 2nd respondent herein to promote the petitioner to 3'd year of B.Sc. (Hons) and to allow the petitioner to write blocklogs and further permit the petitioner to continue the academic classes. Regulation 7.2 (b) and Regulation 18.0 of the Regulations Governing Undergraduate Programs of the University provides for the same. In spite of the said representations, the respondents had not considered the request of the petitioner to pursue the petitioner academic career in the stream oF B.Sc. (Hons) Agricu lture.

5. The learned Standing Counsel for Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PITSAU), appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.2 to 4 submits that the representations of the --:s..S; 4 S\. J !rp -r.l.16() l{)2j petitioner had not been received by the respondents as on date and upon the petitioner making a fresh represenl:ation putting forth the grievance of the petitioner as put forth ir the present writ petition with all the legal pleas as are ava ilable to the petitioner, the same would be considered by th: respondent Nos.2 to 4 in accordance to law, within a reasonable period. PERU ED THE R ECORD 6 Reoula tion 5.O, Req lation 7.2 (b). Reoulation 10.1 d n u r d n1 o Re ula Governinq Pr I Univ (PJTSAU), are extracted hereunder: m isorv S

5.O The students on their admission shall be div ded into convenient batches by the Associate Dean of the college and each batch is assigned to one of the teachers who are designated as 'Advisor'. Each student immedialely after enrolment fills up all the registration cards with the q uidance of his/her advisor. Among other things, the advisor shall help the students in planning the programmes 3f their studies. The advisor will establish and foster close personal relationship with students assigned to him/her duri,rg their entire stay in the college by having periodical nleetings either with the entire batch of students or v/ith each individual student as often as is considered necessary in an effort to know their problems, review their study programmes and take such remedial actions as nay be necessary rn consultation with the teachers concertred and the Associate Dean. The advisor will maintain a record containing particulars of previous history of the 'itudent, courses registered and examinations appeared ar d grades 7 ) SN. J wp .]3,169 2025 obtained in each course in each semester as per the format prescribed by the University (Annexure - 1).

7.2 (b) A student who wishes to seek relaxation of provision in clause (a) of this regulation for good and exceptional reasons-may make an application within 7 (seven) calendar days from the last day of instruction of first semester to the Asiociate Dean of the college concerned giving the grounds and the proof thereof due to which he/ she could not fulfill the minimum 3 attendance requirement, provided he/she puts in at least 600/o attendance during the first semester of admission. Such application shall be considered by a committee consisting of Associate Dean, a senior Professor or a senior Associate Professor in the colleges where a Professor is not existing, as nominated by the Associate Dean, the OIAM of the college, Advisor of the student concerned and the University Medical Officer' If the committee is satisfied that there were exceptional circumstances warranting exercise of discretion to relax the provision in clause (a) of this regulation, the Associate Dean may pass an order allowing the student to continue the studies in relaxation of the provision in clause (a)' The student so permitted to continue the studies shall re-register the courses, in which he/she had shortage of attendance, when offered next.

10.1 The student shall satisfy minimum residential requirements and maximum duration as below. The minimum residential requirement is eight Semesters for U.G. Degree Programmes in the University. The maximum duration of degree programmes is fourteen semesters (7 academic Years).

18.O No Regulation made by the Academic Council, governing the under-graduate courses of study shall be constructed to limit or abriZge the powers of the Academic Council to deal with 6 SN. J wp 11469 2025 any case or cases of any student or students of :he under graduate courses ln such manner as it may appear to it to be just and eq uitable.

7. A bare perusal of the relevant Regulatiorls Governlng Undergraduate Programmes oF the University, R:gulation 5.0 indicates that the University is statutorily obliged to provide eFfective advisory and remedial guidance for sttrclents facing exceptional or chronic issues. Regulation 7.2 (b) ndicates that relaxation of attendance and cou rse- reg istratio I norms for students with exceptional reasons is provided for a.rd Regulation 10.1 permits upto 14 Semesters (7 years) to :omplete the degree. Regulation 18.0 empowers the Academic Council to make any relaxation "as it may appear to it to lle just and equitable" in deserving cases. This Court opines th.rt the request of the petitioner needs to be considered as pcr the above Regulations. 8 Takin into consid ration (a) The aforementioned facts and carcumstances of the case, (b) The submissions made by the learrned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned 7 SN, J \vp -'l l,l6q 2025 Standing Counsel for Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTSAU), appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.2 to 4, (c) The contents of the impugned Memo of the Respondent No.4 dated 03.09.2025 issued to the petitioner, (d) The contents of the representations of the petitioner addressed to the respondent Nos.2 to 4 which had not been received by the respondents, according to the respondents. (e) Regulation 5.O, Regulation 7.2 (b), Regulation

10.1 and Regulation 18.O Regulations Governing Undergraduate Programmes of the University (PJTSAU), UG Regulations, The writ petition is disposed of directing the petitioner to make a representation to the respondent Nos.2 to 4 putting forth the grievance of the petitioner as put forth by the petitioner in the present writ petition pertaining to the request of the petitioner to promote the 8 SN. .I up_33469 202-i (Hons,) and further petitioner to the 3.d year of B.Sc consider the request of the petitioner to app€)ar in backlog subjects for 1.t year and 2nd year as per R.egulation 5.0, Regulation 7.2 (b), Regutation 10.1, Regutation 1g.O of Regulations Governing Undergraduate programmes of the University without reference to the impugned Memo No.Olo/Age, Palem/ Acad./2025, dated 03.O9,.2025 issued to the petitioner, within a period of one ( 1) week from the date of receipt of representation of the petitioner and upon the 2nd respondent receiving the said representataon, the 2nd respondent is directed to consider the grievance of the petitioner as put forth rride the said petationer's representation duly applying and taking into consideration the Regulation 5.O, Regulation 7.2(b), Regulation 1O.1 and Regulation 1g.O of the Regulations Governing Undergraduate programmes of the University and pass appropriate orders on the said representation of the petitioner within one (1) week thereafter and duty communacate the decision to the petitioner. There shall be no order as to costs. 9 SN. J lvP_t3t69_1025 As a sequel, the miscellaneous petitions, if any pending, in the Writ Petition shall also stand closed. tA //TRUE COPY// i SD/.P.PONNA KRISHNA SISTANT R SECTION OFFICER / To, '1 . The Principal Secretary, Department of Education, Secretariat Building State of Telangana,Hyderabad. 2- The Vice Chancellor, Professor Jayashankar, Telangana Sate Agricultural University (PJISAU), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad

3. The Registrar, Professor Jayashankar, Telangana Sate Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad

4. The Associate Dean, Professor Jayashankar, Telangana Sate Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Agricultural College, Palem, Nagarkurnool District

5. One CC to SRl. PRANATHI REDDY .L Advocate [OPUC] 6. One CC to SRI VEDA VIKAS MUDIRAJ. UPPARI SC For Professor Jayashankar, Telangana Sate Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Advocate loPUCl

7. Two CCs to GP FOR EDUCATION ,High Court for the State of Telangana.

8. Two CD Copies ASV € _:---- - :i- --. i i r,.;';: 'r-. . 'a' \ (-l Nr\ 2$6 t;i -t/ -i ..{\...i' r.i'::;l lt.l-i :" HIGH COURT DATED:041111202s ORDER WP.No.33469 ol 2025 ,'-,) ,r l; .) !, ( ) li] \. -". \i: - ), '.:' / - '.\ " - WRIT PETITION IS DISPOSED OI.'F WITH OUT COST \ 1\