MUHAMMED SHEREEF Vs. UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners seek admission to the undergraduate courses in the various colleges affiliated to the first respondent - University of Calicut.

(2.) The grievance impelled by the petitioners in this writ petition is that "Karate" as a sport is not included in the list approved by the University for securing admissions to the undergraduate courses under the "sports quota" on priority. The petitioners say that there is absolutely no reasonable explanation as to why Karate alone has been excluded from the list of disciplines for making candidates eligible for admission to the sports quota; and they say that they had preferred Ext.P22 representation before the Vice Chancellor of the first respondent - University, praying that it be directed to be disposed of by him at the earliest. They further pray that urgent orders be issued since the admissions are now fast closing.

(3.) Sri.P.C.Sasidharan, learned standing counsel appearing for the Calicut University, on the other hand, submits that the petitioners cannot seek a vested right to be appointed under any particular discipline in the sports quota and that this is a matter of policy to be evolved by the University. He says that even though the University is willing to consider Ext.P22, it is unable to inform this Court the time frame within which it can be done on account of Covid - 19 pandemic scenario, which, he says, has now incapacitated the functioning of the University and its offices.