APHC010186752026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] MONDAY, THE FOURTH DAY OF MAY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 9393/2026 Between: 1. ATLURI MASTAN REDDY EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY, SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE AP SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 2001 REGISTRATION NO.450/2003 DATED 26.08.2003, ON THE FILE OF THE DISTRICT REGISTRAR, GUNTUR, HAVING ITS OFFICE AT PETIURIVARIPALEM NARASARAOPET, PALNADU DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY SMT. ATLURI SANTHI, W/O ATIURI SRINIVASA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, R/O. HOUSE NO.12-120, BESIDE OBIT SCHOOL. PRAKASH NAGAR, NARASARAOPET, PALNADU DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522601. 2. A.M.REDDY MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,, AFFILIATED TO JNTU, KAKINADA, REPRESENTED BY IS SECRETARY,, SMT. ATIURI SANTHI, W/O ATIURI SRINIVASA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, R/O. HOUSE NO.12-120, BESIDE CBIT SCHOOL PRAKASH NAGAR, NARASARAOPET, PALNADU DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH - 522601. ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, THULLUR MANDAL, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT 2 2. THE ANDHRA PRADESH HIGHER EDUCATION REGULATORY AND MONITORING COMMISSION, REPRESENTED BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY, 3RD FLOOR, SREE MAHENDRA ENCLAVE. NRI BLOCK, C-BLOCK, NH-15, TADEPALLI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, KAKINADA, JNTUK, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR, KAKINADA. 4. VICECHANCELLOR, THE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY KAKINADA, JNTUK, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR, KAKINADA. ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a writ order or direction more particularly, one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of Respondent Nos.3 and 4 in not nominating an expert for Board of Studies for each department/ subject in the Petitioner College as mandated under Clause-12.5 of the University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 R/w the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 a) granting NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the two (02) new courses viz., B.Tech-Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science) and B. Tech-Robotics and Artificial Intelligence proposed to be offered by the Petitioner College by considering the Petitioners Representation dated 19.01.2026 b) 09.01.2026 and as illegal, arbitrary, biased, wholly without jurisdiction and violative Articles 14, 19, 21 and 300A of the Constitution of India and the provisions of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and the University Grants 3 Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 and consequently, direct the Respondent Nos.3 and 4 to consider the Petitioners Representation dated 06.09.2025 and 15.10.2025 and nominate an expert for Board of Studies for each department/subject for the two (02) post-graduation courses viz., Computer Science and Engineering and VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) in the Petitioner College and also to grant NOC (No Objection Certificate) for two (02) new courses viz., B. Tech- Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science) and B. Tech- Robotics and Artificial Intelligence proposed to be offered by the Petitioner College by forthwith considering the Petitioners Representations dated 09.01.2026 and 19.01.2026 and pass such other orders. IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the Respondent Nos.3 and 4 to forthwith consider the Petitioners’ Representations dated 06.09.2025 and 15.10.2025, as per University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 R/w the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and nominate an expert for Board of Studies for each department/subject for the two (02) post- graduation courses viz., Computer Science and Engineering and VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) in the Petitioner College and pass such other orders. 4 IA NO: 2 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to forthwith grant of NOC (No Objection Certificate) for the two (02) new courses viz., B. Tech-Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science) and B. Tech-Robotics and Artificial Intelligence proposed to be offered by the Petitioners by considering the Petitioners’ Representations dated 09.01.2026 and 19.01.2026 and pass such other orders. Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. M R K CHAKRAVARTHY Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 2. CH.S.V.SURAJ SC For JNTU KAKINADA The Court made the following: 5 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.9393 of 2026 ORDER: 1. The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of Respondent Nos.3 and 4 in not nominating an expert for Board of Studies for each department/subject in the Petitioner-College as mandated under Clause 12.5 of the University Grants Commission (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023 (for short “the UGC Regulations, 2023”) R/w the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and for not granting NOC for the two (2) new courses proposed to be offered by the Petitioner-College, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. After filing of the Writ Petition, the request of the Petitioner for granting NOC to new courses was rejected by the Respondent-University vide Proceedings in Lr.No.JNTUK/D-Affi/Rejection order AMREDDY, dated 13.04.2026. 3. As regards the first part of the prayer for nominating the members to the Committee, Clause 12.5 of the UGC Regulations, 2023 specifies one expert is nominated by the Vice-Chancellor from a panel of six members recommended by the Principal of autonomous college. 6 4. The learned Standing Counsel for the Respondent-University submits that appropriate decision will be taken by the Respondent- University for appointment of an expert on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the University as required under Clause 12.5 of the UGC Regulations, 2023. 5. Considering the submissions, the Writ Petition is disposed of, with the following directions; (i) The Respondent Nos.3 and 4 are directed to nominate one expert from the panel of six members recommended by the Principal of the Petitioner-College, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three (3) weeks; (ii) As regards the rejection of granting NOC to new courses by the Respondent-University vide Proceedings dated 13.04.2026, it is left open to the Petitioner to challenge said proceedings independently; (iii) No order as to costs. As a sequel, pending applications, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 04.05.2026 IS 7 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.9393 of 2026 Date: 04.05.2026 IS