Madras High Court
V.Murugan vs The Director Of Agriculture on 9 September, 2025
Author: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
Bench: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
W.P.No.13979 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 09.09.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
W.P.No.13979 of 2025
and W.M.P.No.15740 of 2025
V.Murugan ... Petitioner
-Vs-
1. The Director of Agriculture,
Chepauk, Chennai.
2. The Registrar,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore.
3. The Vice Chancellor,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore.
4. The Dean (Agriculture),
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore. ...Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying
for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records
relating to the impugned order passed by the 4th respondent dated 31.01.2025
and quash the same as illegal and consequently directing the 4th respondent to
refund the amount of Rs.12,00,000/- (Twelve lakhs only) paid under ABC (Agri
Business consortium) to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University within the time
frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.C.Prthiviraj
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W.P.No.13979 of 2025
For R1 : Mr.N.Naveen Kumar
Government Advocate
For R2 to R4 : Mr.S.Manikandan
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the order passed by the fourth respondent dated 31.01.2025, thereby rejecting the request made by the petitioner to refund a sum of Rs.12 Lakhs paid under Agri Business Consortium to the second respondent.
2. The petitioner's daughter completed her Higher Secondary Education examination and applied to join agriculture related course. She had chosen to join in Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore. But the petitioner's daughter came to understand that the marks obtained by her could not be sufficient to get the seat and as such, she planned to write Entrance Examination, because 20% of the sanctioned seats of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University are allotted to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (herein after called as “ICAR”)-New Delhi for filling candidates through National Level Entrance examination for B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture. She had written the entrance examination in order to obtain an admission in B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Since there was delay in declaration of result and allotment of seats under ICAR quota, the merit quota Page 2 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 was not availed by her before 11.08.2023. Therefore, the petitioner's daughter availed Industrial Sponsorship Quota (herein after called as “ISQ”) on 11.08.2023 by using one of the existing admission processes of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University. Accordingly, she was allotted a seat and the course commenced with effect from 21.09.2023.
3. One M/s Kiruba Sustainable Agriculture Farmers Producers Company Limited at Ottanchathram had sponsored the petitioner's daughter to get an admission for B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture at Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore. Accordingly, the demand drafts for a sum of Rs.12,00,000/- and Rs.25,000/- were paid towards Agri Business Consortium (herein after called as “ABC”) as visiting fee of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University Committee to the sponsoring company. While being so, the petitioner's daughter had secured very good marks in the entrance examination and she had participated in the counselling under ICAR quota. She was issued a provisional allotment letter dated 19.10.2023 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University under B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture degree program. On the basis of the All India merit seat under ICAR quota, the petitioner's daughter's admission was migrated from ISQ to ICAR quota from 14.11.2023. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation to the fourth respondent seeking refund of amount which was Page 3 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 paid by the petitioner on behalf of the sponsor under ISQ. However, it was rejected. As per the prospectus, the ABC membership fees which was paid by the petitioner is non-refundable one. Further, she had joined the course on 11.08.2023 under ISQ and she pursued her studies till 14.11.2023.
4. The second respondent filed a counter and on the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respondents 2 to 4 herein, it is revealed that the selection process has been elaborately stated in the information brochure published by the University for admission. Accordingly, 20% of the sanctioned seats are allotted to ICAR for filling candidates through the National Level Entrance Examination. The admission process and filling of those vacancies lies with ICAR. Therefore, the fourth respondent University is not entrusted with any responsibilities for admission to the ICAR quota.
5. As per the terms and conditions of the prospectus for ISQ, the payment of Rs.12,00,000/- towards the ABC membership fee is to be contributed by every member of the consortium and shall be kept in a separate account governed by Advisory Committee for ABC. The contribution made by the members of the consortium is non-refundable. The petitioner's daughter was unable to secure admission under the ICAR quota and as such, she volunteered Page 4 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 for admission under ISQ quota. M/s Kiruba Sustainable Agricultural Farmers Producers Company Limited was the sponsorer for the petitioner's daughter. Accordingly, a sum of Rs.12,00,000/- towards the membership fee is payable by M/s Kiruba Sustainable Agricultural Farmers Producers Company Limited to become the member of the ABC and a sum of Rs.25,000/- for genuinity verification. Accordingly, on payment of such amount, the petitioner's daughter was selected under ISQ and joined classes from 11.08.2023. Therefore, she is not entitled for refund of the deposit which was made to become the member of ABC.
6. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
7. Admittedly, the petitioner had applied under ICAR quota and had written the entrance examination of Common University Entrance Examination conducted by the National Testing Agency in order to obtain an admission in B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. However, there was a delay in publishing the result and allotment of seats under ICAR quota. Therefore, on 11.08.2023, the petitioner's daughter availed ISQ by using one of the existing admission processes of Tamil Nadu Agriculture Page 5 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 University. One M/s Kiruba Sustainable Agricultural Farmers Producers Company Limited at Ottanchathram was the sponsorer for the petitioner's daughter for getting admission in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. As directed by the fourth respondent, the petitioner had paid a sum of Rs.12,00,000/- and Rs.25,000/- by way of Demand Drafts.
8. Subsequently, the petitioner's daughter had secured 96.73% and got All India rank as 680 and in ICAR with an all India category rank of 252. She had participated in the counselling and she was issued provisional allotment letter dated 19.10.2023 by allotting a seat in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Therefore, the fourth respondent issued a letter dated 07.11.2023, thereby intimating the allotment details and admission guidelines. Accordingly, the petitioner's daughter had been provisionally admitted under ICAR quota on 14.11.2023 and was issued with fresh identification order.
9. On the basis of the All India merit seat under ICAR quota, the petitioner's daughter's admission was migrated from ISQ to ICAR quota. She is pursuing the said degree from 14.11.2023. In fact, her first semester fees of Rs.34,325/- was adjusted from the fees paid under ISQ. The University Grants Commission, by its proceedings dated 03.07.2023 issued guidelines in respect of the refund of fees upon receipt of several representations from the students. Page 6 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 The guidelines is as follows:-
“ Notwithstanding anything contained in any guidelines/prospectus/notification/schedule a full refund of fees shall be made by the HEIs on account of all cancellations of admission/migrations of students up to 30 September 2023 and with a deduction of not more than Rs.1,000, as a processing fee, up to 31 October 2023.”
10. Thus, it is clear that notwithstanding anything contained in any prospectus, a full refund of fees shall be made on account of all cancellations of migrations of students up to 30th September 2023. That apart, a sum of Rs.12,00,000/- and Rs.25,000/- towards ABC membership and visiting fee of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Committee were paid by the petitioner.
11. Though the Memorandum of Understanding was entered by M/s Kiruba Sustainable Agricultural Farmers Producers Company Limited on 11.08.2023, the amount was paid by the petitioner on 10.08.2023 itself. It seems that the said sponsor did not pay any amount in order to become a member of ISQ. Further, it is not the case of the fourth respondent that the petitioner voluntarily discontinued her course.
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12. Admittedly, the petitioner's daughter was selected under the ICAR and did not avail the seat under the merit quota prior to 11.08.2023. Only on 11.08.2023, the petitioner obtained a seat under the ISQ quota, since there was a delay in publishing the result for Common University Entrance Examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency vide ICAR during the year 2023.
13. In view of the above, the petitioner is entitled for refund of fees paid by him under ISQ. Accordingly, the order passed by the fourth respondent dated 31.01.2025 is hereby quashed. The fourth respondent is directed to refund a sum of Rs.12,00,000/- (Rupees Twelve Lakhs only) under ABC to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
14. With the above directions, this writ petition stands allowed. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous petition is closed. No costs.
09.09.2025 Internet: Yes Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation: Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order mn Page 8 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 Page 9 of 10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 29/09/2025 01:17:32 pm ) W.P.No.13979 of 2025 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, mn To
1. The Director of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai.
2. The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
3. The Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
4. The Dean (Agriculture), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
W.P.No.13979 of 2025
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