Ker HC | College cannot arbitrarily reject issuance of NOC to students desirous of taking admission into another college/ institute

Kerala High Court: P.V Asha, J. allowed a petition directing the respondent college to issue NOC to the students applying for transfer to another college as per the rules of the concerned university.

The petitioners, in this case, were students pursuing their engineering course from Cochin Institute of Science and Technology which was a self-funded college. All the petitioners were either in their 2^nd or 4^th semester and wanted to get themselves transferred to another self-funded college, as their institution had a provision of transferring students before the starting of their 3^rd and 5^th semester as per the wish of the students and after the issuance of  “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” by the principal. The deplorable condition of the college forced 106 students to file an application for their transfer which the college arbitrarily rejected. Principal of the college was even requested by the parents to issue the NOC but there was no revert. Feeling aggrieved by the act of college, students filed this petition requesting the Court to direct the college to issue the NOC.

Learned counsels for the petitioner D. Kishore and A.C Devasia argued that when the petitioners did not want to continue in the College and the University permitted inter-college transfer, denial of NOC recommendation on their applications was derogatory to their fundamental right to education under Article 21 of the Constitution. They also informed the Court that they apprehend vindictive measures against the students on their continuance in the college as such open declarations were made by the College and that such measures could adversely affect the very future and the career of all these petitioners. Furthermore, they placed their reliance on Kottayam Institute of Technology and Science v. Admission Supervisory Committee for Professional Colleges in Kerala, 2016(4) KHC 620 and argued that the transfer could be allowed even without the recommendation of the Principal of the College, as it was only a matter of procedure and not a necessity. Thus, it was submitted that the petitioners were entitled to get their certificates released for admission in another College.

Learned counsel for the respondent P. Ravindran argued that the petitioners did not have any right for transfer and the College was not under any obligation to grant NOC or to recommend their applications, as the applications were made based on the norms issued by the university which did not have any statutory force. It was argued that the petition itself was not maintainable for enforcement of guidelines. It was also argued that even as per the norms, it was open to the Principal to recommend or not and only if the application is recommended, the petitioners could further process the applications.

The Court observed that the petitioners did not come under any prohibited category and were entitled to get the NOC. It was further observed that “compelling the students, who did not want to continue in a college, could only affect the future and career of the students. An atmosphere without room for apprehensions and conducive to carry on the studies peacefully, was essential and hence it required paramount consideration.” Therefore, the Court ordered the principal of the college to recommend the applications of the petitioners for inter-college transfer within three days of passing of this judgment. It was also made clear that in the event of any delay on the part of the respondent, the opted Colleges was free to act upon and process the applications submitted by the petitioners as if the applications were recommended. Thus, the petition was allowed.[Jisin Jijo v. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University of Kerala, 2019 SCC OnLine Ker 1691, decided on 31-05-2019]