- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38180-DB WP No. 28234 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T WRIT PETITION NO.28234 OF 2025 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: SAPTHAGIRI NPS UNIVERSITY REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR CHIKKASANDRA, HESARAGATTA MAIN ROAD BENGALURU-560 057. …PETITIONER (BY SRI RAVISHANKAR S.S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. MEMBER SECRETARY (I/C) ALL INDIA COUNSIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION (AICTE) SOUTH WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE P.K. BLOCK, PALACE ROAD BENGALURU-560 001 (BENGALURU UNIVERSITY CAMPUS). 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION 6TH FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001. 3. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KARNATAKA EXAMINATION AUTHORITY SAMPIGE ROAD, 18TH CROSS MALLESWARAM BENGALURU -560 012. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI H.S. SHOWRI, ADVOCATE, FOR R-1, SMT. PRATHIBHA R.K., A.G.A., FOR R-2, AND SRI N.K. RAMESH, ADVOCATE, FOR R-3) * * * Digitally signed by MOUNESHWARAPPA NAGARATHNA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38180-DB WP No. 28234 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT/ORDER/DIRECTION TO THE RESPONDENTS TO IMMEDIATELY INCLUDE THE LIST OF SURRENDERED SEATS OF MANAGEMENT QUOTA 450 SEATS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, AND 100 SEATS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (DATA SCIENCE), TOTAL OF 550 SEATS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-26, PUBLISH A CONSOLIDATED AND INSTITUTION/SPECIALISATION- WISE LIST OF ALL SURRENDERED/VACANT SEATS, IN THE 3RD ROUND ANNEXED AS PER ANNEXURE-A AND A2 ADDRESSED TO RESPONDENT NOS.2 AND 3, AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION IS COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) The present Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner-Institution, which is a Deemed University, for the following prayers: "a) Issue a writ/order/direction to Respondents to immediately include the list of surrendered seats of Management Quota 450 seats of Computer Science and Engineering and 100 seats of Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science) total of 550 seats for the academic year 2025-26, publish a consolidated and institution/specialisation-wise list of all surrendered/ vacant seats, in the 3rd Round annexed as per Annexure-A and A-2 addressed to Respondent Nos.2 and 3. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38180-DB WP No. 28234 of 2025 b) Conduct, announce and publish, the 3rd round of seat allotment for the year 2025-26 with inclusion of surrendered seats, in the interest of justice and institutional transparency. c) Pass such further or other order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity." 2. It appears that when the petitioner-Institution could not fill up the Management quota, they sought to surrender 550 Engineering seats of Management quota to the Government to be filled up from the General Merit quota. The petitioner- Institution wrote a letter on 01.09.2025 intimating to the Government that they would like to surrender 550 seats of Management quota for including these seats in the seat matrix for filling up those seats from the General Merit quota. 3. The Government, in response to the said letter, on 08.09.2025, intimated the Karnataka Examination Authority. The Karnataka Examination Authority, by its letter dated 09.09.2025, in categorical terms, informed the Government that only four days were left for - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38180-DB WP No. 28234 of 2025 concluding all rounds of counselling for Engineering Courses as per the academic calendar fixed by the All India Council for Technical Education. The Karnataka Examination Authority, therefore, intimated its inability to conduct any counselling for the students beyond 13.09.2025. 4. Mr. N.K. Ramesh, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.3-Karnataka Examination Authority, in categorical terms, states that all rounds of counselling for Engineering Courses are over and no further round of counselling is to be conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority. The last date set up by the All India Council for Technical Education for the academic calendar 2025-26 was 15.09.2025 and that date is also over. 5. We take the statement of Mr. N. K. Ramesh, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.3-Karnataka Examination Authority, on record to say that no other - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38180-DB WP No. 28234 of 2025 round of counselling is being conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority for admission in Engineering Professional Courses. Therefore, at this stage, we cannot grant any reliefs to the petitioner-Institution. However, in future, if the All India Council for Technical Education extends the date for conducting any further round(s) of counselling, the Karnataka Examination Authority may include the surrendered seats for counselling. With the aforesaid directions, we dispose off the present Writ Petition. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (VENKATESH NAIK T) JUDGE KVK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 36