Madras High Court
Joshua Rajmohan vs The State Rep.By on 5 January, 2026
Author: D.Bharatha Chakravarthy
Bench: D.Bharatha Chakravarthy
W.P.No.44566 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 05-01-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY
W.P.No.44566 of 2025
1. Joshua Rajmohan, M/54
S/o.Edwin Moses,
Head of the Department,
Electronic and Communication Engineering,
V.Ramakrishna Polytechnic College,
Manali Road, Thiruvottiyur, Chennai.
2.Baskar,M/56
S/o.Shanmugam,
Workshop Instructor / Mechanical,
V.Ramakrishna Polytechnic College,
Manali Road, Thiruvottiyur, Chennai.
3.Dhinagaran.M/45
S/o.Thulasingam,
Senior Lecturer, V.Ramakrishna Polytechnic College,
Manali Road, Thiruvottiyur, Chennai.
4.Sinraj, M/53
S/o.Sidhan, Workshop Instructor/Automobile,
V.Ramakrishna Polytechnic College, Manali Road,
Thiruvottiyur, Chennai.
Petitioners
Vs
1. The State rep.by
The Secretary, Higher Education
Department, 6th Floor, Namakkal
Kavignar Maligai, Secretariat, Near
RBI, Fort St George, Chennai 600009.
2.The Commissioner,
Directorate Of Technical Education
(DOTE), Guindy, Chennai 600025.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 08/01/2026 03:26:19 pm )
W.P.No.44566 of 2025
3.The Trustee and Correspondent,
V.Ramakrishnan Polytechnic College,
Ramakrishnan Building,
2, P.V.Cherian Cresent Road,
Egmore, Chennai 600008.
Respondents
PRAYER
Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India
praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 2 not to
permit the 3rd respondent to close the V.Ramakrishna Polytechnic College,
Manali Road, Thiruvotryur on the ground of alleged low students strength and
consequently direct the respondents to ensure the continuation of college in the
interest of students and staffs based on the representation dated 10.09.2025.
For Petitioners :Mr.R.Thirumoorthy
For Respondents :Mr.A.E.Ayyadurai, GA for
R1 and R2
M/s Geetha Ara for
Mr.S.Ramasubramaniam &
Associates for R3
ORDER
The writ petition is filed with a prayer for directing the respondents 1 and 2 not to permit the 3rd respondent to close V.Ramakrishna Polytechnic College, Manali Road, Thiruvottiyur, on the ground of alleged low students strength and consequently, direct the respondents to ensure the continuation of the college in the interest of the students and staff, based on the representation dated 10.09.2025.
2.The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the college is now being closed by the persons in-charge, without any valid reasons, whatsoever https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 08/01/2026 03:26:19 pm ) W.P.No.44566 of 2025 and if they are permitted to proceed further, the same would result in huge prejudice to the petitioners, who are teachers in the said College. The students in the vicinity area, who are either availing or seeking admission to the institution, will also suffer.
3.Per contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the College would submit that the institution is governed only by the AICTE Regulations. They are not totally closing, but are intending for progressive closure. In the said sense, the admission will be stopped and the existing students will continue the course and then, they will pass out. The reason that is mentioned in the counter affidavit is that even though the college had a total sanctioned strength of 300 and thereafter 210, the seats are not filled up and therefore, they could not make both ends meet and they have no other option than to close down the institution and accordingly, as per the AICTE Regulations they have to follow the course as mentioned in Regulation 2.21. As per Regulation 2.21 they have to submit a Form before the AICTE in Annexure-II. Before submitting Annexure- II, they have to get the NOC from the affiliating body, that is Directorate of Technical Education in the instant case. Therefore, they have applied for NOC before the second respondent and the same is pending.
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4. It can be seen that while, on the one hand, the application is being made, on the other hand, admissions for the academic year 2025-2026 have already been stopped. Be that as it may, in the given facts and circumstances of the case, it is incumbent upon the second respondent to forthwith decide the NOC, that is prayed for by the Institution and thereafter, it is for the AICTE to consider the prayer, that is made. While deciding the NOC by the second respondent, let the grievance of the petitioners shall also be taken into consideration to the extent permissible under law.
5. In view thereof, this writ petition is disposed of on the following terms:
The second respondent shall take up the application for No Objection submitted by the 3rd respondent/Institution dated 09.06.2025 and pass orders thereon, in accordance with law, by duly hearing the 3 rd respondent and also the petitioners and pass final orders, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a web copy of this order, without waiting for the certified copy of the order. No costs.
05-01-2026 Neutral Citation:Yes/No ari https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 08/01/2026 03:26:19 pm ) W.P.No.44566 of 2025 To
1.The Secretary, Higher Education Department, 6th Floor, Namakkal Kavignar Maligai, Secretariat, Near Rbi, Fort St George, Chennai 600009.
2.The Commissioner Directorate Of Technical Education (dote), Guindy, Chennai 600025.
3.The Trustee and Correspondent V.Ramakrishnan Polytechnic College, Ramakrishnan Building, 2, P.V.Cherian Cresent Road, Egmore, Chennai 600008.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 08/01/2026 03:26:19 pm ) W.P.No.44566 of 2025 D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.
ari W.P.No.44566 of 2025 05-01-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 08/01/2026 03:26:19 pm )