P. Sathasivam, J. - (1.) By consent, the main writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal.
(2.) The petitioners numbering five, through their natural guardian, approached this Court to issue a writ of declaration, declaring Instructions No.1.5 and Table 3 of the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examinations 2002 in so far as the same omits the Vocational Subject and Vocational Stream (Instructions 1.5 (old paper 5) and 6.3 Vocational Subjects is concerned) as null and void and consequently direct the respondents to include the Paper.6 Vocational Subject at No.15 and also 6.3 of the Vocational Stream of Course at Table 3 of the present Instructions / Notification of the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examinations and consequently extend all benefits of continuance and completion of the course.
(3.) The case of the petitioners is briefly stated hereunder: All the petitioners have jointed the Plus 2 course during the academic year 2000 -2001 in Vocational Stream of Education. They have taken Vocational Stream of Plus 2 course in the Electrical, Domestic Appliances, Repairs and Maintenance and Mathematics. The main subject being Electrical and Domestic Appliances, Repairs and Maintenance (EDA for short). As per the earlier direction of this Court, the Government in G.O.Ms.No.479 Higher Education (J -1) Department dated 07.12.1999, prepared a comprehensive question paper for Vocational Stream based on a Committee's report. As per the said Government Order, modalities were to be issued for the Tamil Nadu Professional Course Entrance Examination during 2000. Pursuant to the order of this Court, separate examination was held for candidates from Vocational Stream of Higher Secondary. When the petitioners joined their Plus 2 course during 2000 -2001, and when they continued their second year of Plus -2 course, the subject of Vocational Stream at Code No.6.3, in the earlier Prospectus Rule, have been permitted to about 35 subjects. By the present impugned Notification in the Prospectus, the Vocational Stream at 1.5 has been deleted which is detrimental to the accrued rights of the petitioners from the earlier serial numbers Paper 5 and at present the petitioners are to appear in paper 4, which is meant for Vocational Stream candidates.;