STATE OF TAMIL NADU REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT Vs. ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN ACTING AICTE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE State of Tamil Nadu, represented by the Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, has come up with the above writ petition, challenging the revised eligibility criteria fixed by the All India Council for Technical Education for the academic year 2011-2012 (i) for admission to the 4 Year Bachelor's Program in Engineering and Technology and (ii) for admission by way of lateral entry to the Second Year of the Bachelor's Degree Course in Engineering and Technology.

(2.) I have heard Mr.A.Navaneethakrishnan, learned Advocate General assisted by Mr.E.Sampath Kumar, learned Special Government Pleader (Education), Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan, learned Senior Counsel for the first respondent (AICTE), Mr.A.S.Chakravarthy, learned Central Government Standing Counsel for respondents 2 and 3 and Mr.K.Doraisamy, learned Senior Counsel for the fourth respondent impleaded by order dated 24.7.2011 in M.P.No.6 of 2011.

(3.) BEFORE proceeding to analyse the basis on which the State has come up with the above writ petition, I must bring on record one fact. The writ petition was admitted on 30.6.2011. Along with the writ petition, the State filed 3 miscellaneous petitions, in M.P.Nos.1 to 3 of 2011. M.P.No.1 of 2011 was for dispensing with the production of the original impugned proceedings of the AICTE. M.P.No.2 of 2011 was for interim stay of operation of the impugned regulations. M.P.No.3 of 2011 was for an interim direction to allow the Selection Committee constituted by the State Government to grant admission as per the norms fixed by the State Government in G.O.Ms.No.151, Higher Education, dated 14.6.2010.