VEENA VIJAYAN Vs. KERALA UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed by the petitioners seeking direction to the respondents to consider Exts.P5, P9, P15, P18 and P21 representations and register the petitioners as Research Scholars in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Nursing for the July Session, 2017 of Ph.D. programme, in accordance with law, and for a further direction to respondents 1 and 2 to include the subjects Pharmaceutical Sciences and Nursing in the list of subjects given, so as to enable the petitioners to submit online application, and for other related reliefs. Material facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows:

(2.) According to the petitioners, they satisfy the qualification and eligibility criteria for registration as Research Scholars (Ph.D) in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Nursing offered by the 1st respondent University. Approved Research Guides of the 1st respondent University have given their consent to guide the petitioners. The Research Centre of 1st respondent University has also given approval for petitioners' research. In the last notification for Ph.D. entrance Examination issued by the 1st respondent University, the subjects offered included Pharmaceutical Sciences and Nursing.

(3.) The 1st respondent University has issued Ext.P24 notification inviting application for registering in the July Session, 2017 for Ph.D programme. However, the 1st respondent University has unilaterally and without any prior notice, did not provide Pharmaceutical Sciences and Nursing as options in the online application portal, as a result of which, petitioners were not able to submit their online application for registration. Therefore, it is the contention of the petitioners that, consequent to the arbitrary action of the 1st respondent University, right of the petitioners to pursue Research (Ph.D) is put in peril, and thereby denying all prospects for their career advancement.