IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR THURSDAY, THE 3RD JULY 2008 / 12TH ASHADHA 1930 WP(C).No. 18734 of 2005(E) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ DR.K.KRISHNAN NAMBOOTHIRI, READER, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KOCHI-682 022. BY ADV. SRI.P.CHANDRASEKHAR RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, COCHIN UNIVERSITY (P.O),COCHIN-682022, REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR. 2. THE REGISTRAR, COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, COCHIN UNIVERSITY (P.O), COCHIN-682 022. BY ADV. SRI.S.P.ARAVINDAKSHAN PILLAI,SC,COCHI U FOR R1 & R2 SRI.SURIN GEORGE IYPE,SC,CUSAT,COCHIN U FOR R1,2 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 03/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WPC NO.18734/2005 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS P1 : COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 23/01/2002 OF THE PETITIONER TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P2 : COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 06/06/2002 OF SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES OF THE RESPONDENT TO THE PETITIONER. P3 : COPY OF the LETTER DATED 07/06/2002 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KOCHI. P4 : COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF THE MINUTES OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 16/08/2002. P5 : COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 13/02/2003 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY. P6 : COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 24/02/2003 OF THE DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES TO THE PETITIONER. P7 : COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 14/03/2003 ISSUED BY THE UNIVERSITY. P8 : COPY OF the NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE DATED 06/11/2003 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P9 : COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 03/06/2003 FOR PAYMENT OF FEE FOR THE 1ST QUARTER 2003. P10 : COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 09/12/2003 FOR PAYEMNT OF FEE FOR 2ND QUARTER 2003. P11 : COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 03/06/2004 FOR PAYMENT OF FEE FOR 1ST QUARTER 2004. P12 : COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 01/12/2003 FOR PAYMENT OF FEE FOR 2ND QUARTER 2004. P13 : COPY OF THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE SYNDICATE MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY HELD ON 23/06/2004. P14 : CO9PY OF THE LETTER NO.Ac.B2/Misc/A/98 DATED 23/03/2003 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. P15 : COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 06/04/2005 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT. //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE. jg C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. ------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 18734 of 2005 --------------------------------- Dated, this the 3rd day of July, 2008 J U D G M E N T The writ petition is filed for a direction to the University to permit petitioner to take up research in Vedic Literature (with special reference to Bhagawat Geetha), Astrology and Business Management. Petitioner is a Reader in the School of Management Studies of Cochin University. He has also a Ph.D decree in one subject. Petitioner made representation vide Ext.P1 to University on 23/01/2002 requesting permission for registration for research programme. Petitioner himself has stated in Ext.P1 that the University does not have a recognised research guide in the field, in which he wants to do research. He has further stated that he himself is a research guide of the University and therefore, he can take up research work without any guide. The University vide Ext.P4 declined petitioner's request stating that existing regulations did not permit it. Even though, this is the order under challenge in the writ petition, learned counsel for the petitioner reiterated the contentions raised in Ext.P1 application submitted by petitioner. Admittedly, the University does not have a faculty in Vedic Literature, Bhagawat Geetha or Astrology, in which petitioner wants WP(C) No.18734/2005 -2- to take up research. The regulations pertaining to research are extracted in the counter affidavit. It is clear from this that research can be permitted under the supervision of a guide and the guide has to write progress report on the research in every six months. It is based on the progress report and the thesis prepared by the researcher, the doctorate committee awards the decree. Petitioner's case that he himself will act as his guide in research or there is no need for a guide for his research appears to be absurd because University regulations provide for award of degree based on outcome of research which includes appraisal and progressive reports periodically prepared by the Guide on petitioner's research. Since the University does not have the facility, or even a department, in the subject in which petitioner wants to do research, I feel University is perfectly justified in rejecting petitioner's application. The original petition is, therefore, devoid of any merit and is dismissed. (C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, JUDGE) jg