SRI SAI RR INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY vs. DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION  WRIT PETITION (C) NO.446 OF 2021 SRI SAI RR INSTITUTE OF  PHARMACY ...PETITIONER(S) VERSUS DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY AND ANOTHER       ...RESPONDENT(S) WITH  WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO.448 OF 2021 SHRI BADRINATH COLLEGE OF  PHARMACY  ...PETITIONER(S) VERSUS DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY AND ANOTHER       ...RESPONDENT(S) O R D E R B.R. GAVAI, J. 1. Both   these   writ   petitions   filed   by   the   petitioner   – colleges   seek   various   directions,   including   the   direction   to Signature Not Verified respondent No. 1 ­ Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University Digitally signed by Jayant Kumar Arora Date: 2021.07.06 18:02:42 IST Reason: (hereinafter referred to as “the University”), i.e, to comply with 1 Notification dated 19.3.2021 issued by the State Government and grant conditional affiliation to the petitioner – colleges for Academic Year 2020­2021; direction directing the University to organize   special   examinations   for   B.   Pharma   students   for Academic Year 2020­2021 in view of the aforesaid Notification dated   19.3.2021;   and   direction   to   the   University   to   permit students of the petitioner – colleges to participate in the special examinations. 2. It is the contention of the petitioner – colleges that the facts in the present writ petitions are identical with the facts in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021 (VIIT Pharmacy College and another vs. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University and 1 another) , which was allowed by this Court vide order dated 15.4.2021. Insofar   as   Writ   Petition   (Civil)   No.   390   of   2021   is 3. concerned, the University has not seriously disputed that the 1 2021 SCC Online SC 322 2 facts in the present writ petitions are similar to that in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021.  However, it is the contention of the University, taken for the first time in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 448 of 2021 (Shri Badrinath College of Pharmacy vs. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University & Anr.), that the petitioner ­ Shri Badrinath College of Pharmacy did not participate in the counselling process and as such, is not entitled to any relief. Another ground that has been taken is, that there is a similar writ   petition   pending   before   the   High   Court   filed   by   the petitioner ­ Shri Badrinath College of Pharmacy with regard to the same relief.  4. We   find,   that   the   facts   in   both   the   present   writ petitions are almost similar to facts in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021 decided by this Court on 15.4.2021.  In both cases, grant of affiliation was denied by the University on the sole ground, that the timeline as prescribed by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had lapsed.   3 It is also not in dispute, that vide Notification dated 5. 19.3.2021,   the   State   Government   after   considering   the recommendations   made   by   the   Affiliation   Committee   has granted  conditional affiliation to the  petitioner  ­  colleges for admission in B. Pharma course in compliance with the order of the High Court passed in Writ Petition No.12536 of 2020. 6. The writ petitions have been filed by the petitioner – colleges since the University has refused to grant affiliation to the petitioner – colleges and to permit their students to appear for First Year B. Pharma examination.   This Court while allowing Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 7. 2021 has observed thus: “9. This   Court,   in   the   case   of,   Dr.   S.K. Toshiwal   Educational   Trusts   Vidarbha has held as Institute of Pharmacy (supra),   under:­

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10. Indisputably, in the present case, the PCI has granted approval to both the petitioners th vide order dated 10   April 2020, with intake capacity of 100 and 60 admissions/students respectively.   Not only that, the petitions filed by   the   petitioners   challenging   the   policy th decision of  the   State  Government dated  15 May   2020,   have   been   allowed   by   the   High th Court   vide   judgment   and   order   dated   9 November   2020.     Indisputably,   the   State th Government   also   vide   notification   dated   19 March 2021, has granted conditional affiliation after considering the recommendations made by the Affiliation Committee.   In the peculiar facts   and   circumstances   of   the   case   and particularly, taking into consideration, that the averments made on affidavit by the petitioners, are not controverted by the respondent No.1­ University, we find that the petition deserves to be allowed.” 5 8. As   in   the   aforesaid   case   decided   by   order   dated 15.4.2021,   in   the   present   case   also   the   approval   has   been granted by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) on 10.4.2021 to both the petitioner – colleges with an intake capacity of 60 students   each.     The   present   petitioners   have   also   filed   the petitions   challenging   the   policy   decision   of   the   State Government dated 15.5.2020 before the High Court and the same have been allowed by the High Court by judgments and orders dated 2.11.2020 and 10.11.2020.   In the present case also, the State Government vide Notification dated 19.3.2021 has   granted   conditional   affiliation   after   considering   the recommendations made by the Affiliation Committee.   9. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, particularly finding that the facts in both the present cases are almost similar with the facts in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021, we are of the view that the present petitioners are also entitled to the same relief as is granted by this Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 390 of 2021.    6 We are therefore inclined to allow the petitions in the 10. following terms: The University is therefore directed to grant affiliation to the petitioner ­ Colleges for the Academic Year 2020­21 and also   permit   the   students   of   the   petitioner   ­   Colleges   to participate in the special examinations to be organized by the University   for   the   Academic   Year   2020­21   in   view   of   the th Notification dated 19  March 2021. 11. The writ petitions are allowed in the above terms.  …..….......................J. [R.F. NARIMAN] .................................J.          [K.M. JOSEPH] …….........................J. [B.R. GAVAI] NEW DELHI; JULY 06, 2021. 7