ASUTOSH SAHOO Vs. REGISTRAR, UTKAL UNIVERSITY & ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE writ petitions have been filed by the students aspiring to take admission in Five Year Integrated B.A.LLB.(Hons.) Course in the two constituent colleges of Utkal University, i.e., Madhusudan Law College, Cuttack, and the University Law College, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, alleging that they have been illegally debarred by the Principal, M.S. Law College, Cuttack, from participating in the counselling held on 16.07.2011 and thereby depriving them of their legal right to take admission in the said course.

(2.) THE brief facts common to all the writ petitions are that pursuant to the admission notice dated 06.01.2011, issued by the Utkal University, inviting applications for admission to Five Year Integrated B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) Course in its two constituent colleges, i.e., M.S. Law College, Cuttack and University Law College, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, the petitioners had applied for the same and appeared in the common entrance test held on 5.7.2011 and had secured high ranks in the merit list published by the University. Accordingly, the petitioners were issued with intimation letter by the respective Colleges, intimating them their rank in the merit list drawn up pursuant to the common entrance test conducted by the University and asking them to report to the counselling center at MS. Law College, Cuttack, on 16.7.2011 by 10.30 A.M.

(3.) THE University issued an advertisement for conducting entrance test in the said course for the academic session 2011 -12, for selection of candidates for admission on the basis of their career -cum -entrance test Basing on the entrance test and career evaluation, a merit list of candidates was prepared and thereafter intimations were issued to the candidates stating their rank in the merit list and informing them that the counselling for admission will be held on 16.7.2011 from 11 A.M. onwards at M.S. Law College, Cuttack, and the concerned students were required to report at the counselling center positively by 10.30 A.M. In this regard, reference has been made to Clause 8.3 of the prospectus issued to the aspiring students at the time of issuance of form, which specifically provided the date, time and place of counselling.