The Petitioner college was established during the year 2008 - 2009. At the time of getting permission for commencement of the College, as per the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.356, Higher Education dated 29.09.2009, the total requirement of land for starting a new self-financing College in Village Panchayat was 10 Acres. Since the petitioner fulfilled the said requirement by having 10 acres of land, permission was granted by the respondents for starting the Arts College. Subsequently, the Government had taken a policy decision by which G.O.Ms.No.40 Education Department dated 28.02.2014 was issued prescribing 5 acres of land as against 10 acres of land for establishing Arts and Science College in Village Panchayat. Based on the said G.O. the petitioner seeks to restrict 10 acres of lands, which the petitioner has exhibited and got approval, to 5 acres of land. The said request has been rejected by the respondents. Hence, the order of rejection is being challenged before this Court.
2. Heard Mr.L.Chandrakumar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.Sanjay Gandhi, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
3. A perusal of the impugned order would show that G.O.Ms.No.40 Education Department dated 28.02.2014 is effective from the date of issuance namely, it would have application prospectively and not retrospectively covering the petitioner, as the petitioner college has already been approved as early as 2008 - 2009. Hence, the respondents are right in rejecting the petitioner's contention stating that G.O.Ms.No.40 Education Department dated 28.02.2014 would have prospective application and not retrospective application. Therefore, G.O.Ms.No.40 Education Department was passed, taken into consideration the scarcity of urban land available for opening of Colleges. However, the said ground cannot be applicable to the Colleges which have already got recognition, after procuring the lands and as such, scarcity of lands cannot be a ground for the petitioner to hold 5 acres of land instead of 10 acres as per G.O.Ms.No.40, Higher Education Department dated 28.02.2014.
4. If the contention of the petitioner has to be accepted, this will open a flood-gate and many institutions which adhered the old G.O.s would N.KIRUBAKARAN,J., rgr/dh come out with similar plea, as sought by the petitioner which is not in the interest of the student as well as the society. Therefore, the writ petition fails.
5. In the result, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
09.03.2017 Index: Yes/No rgr/dh To
1. The Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2. The Directorate of Collegiate Education, D.P.I. College Road, Chennai - 600 006.
W.P.No.18029 of 2015 http://www.judis.nic.in