- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46518 WP No. 28138 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 28138 OF 2024 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: DR. RUPESH S IYENGAR S/O SATISH N IYENGAR AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, NO.1305 29TH B CROSS 13TH MAIN, 4TH BLOCK EAST JAYANAGAR BENGALURU - 560 011. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRADEEP K GAONKAR., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE BY ITS REGISTRAR INDIA HABITAT CENTRE, CORA 6A 1ST FLOOR LODHI ROAD NEW DELHI - 110 003 2. UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY FOR EDUCATION, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION 127/C, SHASHTRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI NAVEEN R NATH, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SMT.RESHMA.K.T., & SMT.RASHMI.S., ADVOCATES FOR R1; SRI B.S.VENKATANARAYANA, CGC FOR R2) Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46518 WP No. 28138 of 2024 THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT R-1 TO RECONSIDER THE APPLICATION OF THE PETITIONER AT ANNEXURE-D DATED 08.05.2018 BY REGISTERING HIM AS AN ARCHITECT AND CONSEQUENTIALLY ISSUE THE REGISTRATION NUMBER UNDER THE ARCHITECTS ACT 1972 BY OVER TURNING THE REJECTION AT ANNEXURES-M & N DATED 10.07.2024 & 10.11.2023 RESPECTIVELY, ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR REPORTING SETTLEMENT, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus and/or such or other writ order or direction, directing the Respondent No.1 to reconsider the application of the petitioner at Annexure-D dated 08.05.2018 by registering him as an Architect and consequentially issue the registration number under the Architects Act, 1972 by overturning the rejection of the petitioner's application at Annexures-M & N dated 10.07.2024 & 10.11.2023. b. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus and/or such other writ order or direction, directing the Respondent No.2 to also include/amend the title of "Doctor of Sciences" along with the pre-existing title of "Doctor of Technical Sciences" conferred by the Swiss Federal - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46518 WP No. 28138 of 2024 Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland in the Schedule of the Architects Act, 1972. c. Grant costs and pass such other orders as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the light of the facts and circumstances of case in the interest of justice and equity. 2. The grievance of the petitioner is that the petitioner having obtained the degree in Doctorate of Technical Sciences in Architecture from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland, his qualification was not accepted by Respondent No.1 and he was not registered as qualified Architect under Respondent No.1. 3. In this background, the petitioner had approached this Court. In so far as the second relief which had been sought for, the second respondent, Union of India has by way of Notification dated 03.07.2025 amended the Schedule in terms of Section 15 of the Architects Act, 1972 to include the Doctorate of Sciences in Architecture awarded by Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland. As such, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46518 WP No. 28138 of 2024 the relief, which has been sought for in prayer (b) has stood answered. 4. In so far as prayer (a) is concerned, the same is a consequence of the amendment now made and it would be for the Respondent No.1 to register the petitioner as an Architect and issue a registration number. As such, I pass the following: ORDER i) Writ Petition is allowed. ii) A mandamus is issued directing Respondent No.1 to consider the application of the petitioner at Annexure-D dated 08.05.2018 and register him as an Architect and issue registration number under the Architects Act, 1972, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. iii) Henceforth, Respondent No.1 would also be well advised to ascertain the qualifications and degrees, which are granted by Universities, - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46518 WP No. 28138 of 2024 abroad, whose equivalency could be considered for the purpose of registration of Architects under Respondent No.1 and periodically, every six months advise Respondent No.2 to carry out such amendment as may be required. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE DH, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 55