MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.No.38418 of 2025 Sobithaa R.S … Petitioner Vs. 1. Vice-Chancellor (I/C), TANUVAS Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 13.10.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
W.P.No.38418 of 2025
Sobithaa R.S … Petitioner
Vs.
1. Vice-Chancellor (I/C), TANUVAS
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony.
2. The Registrar TANUVAS
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony.
3. The Controller of Examinations and Director,
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony.
Admission 2025-26 … Respondents
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents TANUVAS to accept the undertaking/affidavit of the petitioner to produce the NRI Certificate in the prescribed format on or before
30.04.2026, within the current academic year 2025-26 directing the respondents to confirm the petitioner’s admission to the vacant seat under the NRI quota for the B.V.Sc & A.H. Course at TANUVAS for the academic year 2025-26 or alternatively to grant reasonable time for furnishing the certificate in the prescribed format.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Velmurugan, for Mr.A.Raghu Raman
For Respondents: Mr.S.Vijayakumar, Senior Counsel for Mr.J.Melvin Jabaz, Standing Counsel (for R1 to R3)
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed for a direction directing the respondents to accept the undertaking/affidavit of the petitioner to produce the NRI certificate in the prescribed format on or before 30.04.2026, within the current academic year 2025-26, and directing the respondents to confirm the petitioner’s admission to the vacant seat under the NRI quota for B.V.Sc & A.H. Course at TANUVAS for the academic year 2025-26.
2. Heard the learned counsel for both sides and perused thematerials available on record.
3. The petitioner had completed her higher secondary examination and submitted an application on 17.06.2025 to the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University under the NRI quota, since her father is employed in Kuwait with a valid civil ID from the year 2017. Thereafter, the petitioner’s father returned to India on 16.06.2025 to assist the petitioner with the college admission process under the NRI quota. The petitioner was selected and secured 8th rank out of 24 selected candidates under the NRI quota.
4. In pursuance of the provisional selection, the petitioner was directed to pay the admission fee, a sum of USD 7,000, which was duly paid by 02.09.2025. When the petitioner’s father appeared before the Admission Committee on 02.09.2025 and produced the NRI sponsored certificate, it was objected that her NRI certificate was not in the prescribed format. Therefore, the petitioner filed a Writ Petition before this Court in W.P. No. 35292 of 2025, and this Court, by order dated
19.09.2025, while dismissing the writ petition, observed that if any vacancy arises under the NRI quota in future, the respondents are directed to consider the case of the petitioner for admission into the B.V.Sc. & A.H. Course. Thereafter, the petitioner’s father had rejoined in his employment in Kuwait.
5. Further, the petitioner was informed through e-mail dated 16.10.2025 that a vacancy had arisen under the NRI quota and was directed to submit documents on or before 13.10.2025, such as an NRI status certificate in the prescribed format of the sponsorship issued by the Indian Embassy and the NRI bank statement for the past six months (before the application cut-off date) of the NRI sponsor. Since the petitioner’s father failed to complete 182 days of stay in Kuwait, he was not issued an NRI certificate by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. Therefore, the petitioner sought permission to produce the NRI certificate in the prescribed format within the academic year 2025-2026, i.e., 30.04.2026. However, it was not considered, and as such, the petitioner approached this Court.
6. While pending this writ petition, this Court granted time toproduce the NRI certificate as required under the prospectus. Therefore, immediately, the petitioner’s father went to Kuwait and obtained an NRI certificate dated 11.10.2025 and produced it before this Court. The petitioner also produced the statement of accounts from 01.12.2024 to 02.09.2025 before this Court.
7. The learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondents would submit that the NRI certificate produced by the petitioner is not in the prescribed format as mandated under the prospectus. The petitioner also failed to produce the statement of accounts for a period of six months on the date of her application. The petitioner submitted the application on 17.06.2025, whereas she produced the statement of accounts of NRI from 01.12.2024 to 02.09.2025. Further, as per the prospectus, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen staying outside India for more than 182 days in a year. However, the NRI has to submit the bank account statement for the past six months preceding the date of submission of the application. Though the statement of accounts produced before this Court is taken into account, the transactions are only from 25.06.2025; she made an application on 16.06.2025.
Therefore, both conditions were not fulfilled by the petitioner to consider her candidature under the NRI quota.
8. Mr. M. Velmurugan, the learned counsel for the petitioner, clarified that as per the prospectus, in order to comply with the conditions under the NRI quota, a Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen staying outside India for more than 182 days in a year. The candidates applying under the NRI/Wards of NRI/NRI sponsored category should submit a recent NRI status certificate of the candidate/parents/sponsor issued by the Indian Embassy of the country concerned with their seal, as per Specimen I or I(a), as applicable.
9. On perusal of Specimen I(a) of the NRI certificate, as per the prospectus, the NRI is residing out of India; the period should be mentioned in the NRI certificate. The petitioner’s father also produced his employment identity, which shows that the petitioner’s father has been employed in Kuwait from the year 2017. The petitioner also produced the statement of account of her father, showing that her father has an account with Federal Bank from the year 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was restriction, and as such, the petitioner’s father could not continue his employment abroad; however, he is maintaining an account with Federal Bank in Kuwait.
10. Further, the NRI certificate issued by the Embassy of India is as follows:-
“NRI CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Mr.RAMACHANDRAN VENKATESAN holder of India Passport No.X2740708 issued at CHENNAI on 14.02.2024 is currently residing in CHENNAI at SHUAIBA INDUSTRIAL AREA, BLK.11, AVENUE 17A, KUWAIT.
2. He may be extended all courtesies and facilities, as admissible to Non-Resident Indian (NRIs).
3. This is issued at the request of Mr.
RAMACHANDRAN VENKATESAN on the basis of his Passport for the purpose of college admission of his daughter Ms.SOBITHA. R.S (Aadhaar No.2208 6324
4452) in India.
4. This Certificate is valid for a period of 06 months from the date of issue.”
11. Though it does not mention the period, admittedly, thepetitioner’s father has been employed from the year 2017, as per the employment identity card, which is issued every year. So, in order to apply under the NRI quota, for NRI or OCI candidates, the sponsor should have an active NRI foreign bank account. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted her father’s bank account statement for the past six months preceding the date of submission of the application.
12. On perusal of the statement of accounts produced by the petitioner’s sponsor, i.e., the father of the petitioner, from 01.12.2024 to 02.09.2025, she made an application under the NRI quota on 16.06.2025. Therefore, she produced the NRI’s bank statement for the past six months. Though there were no transactions from 01.12.2024, on perusal of the statement of account produced before this Court, it is revealed that the petitioner’s father has an account with the Federal Bank at Kuwait from 29.01.2021 onwards. These conditions are specifically mentioned in the prospectus to ascertain that the sponsor should be an NRI and he has to produce a six-month bank statement. Accordingly, the petitioner’s sponsor, viz., her father, has been employed in Kuwait from the year
2017 and he is maintaining an NRI bank account from the year 2021.
13. Further, the prescribed institutional economic fee and development fee should be paid in US dollars only from the active NRI/NRE/foreign account of the NRI parents. The payment of fee in any other currency and through any other account is not entertained. Admittedly, the petitioner’s father, who is the NRI, paid the petitioner’s fees only through the NRI account, i.e., the Federal Bank at Kuwait. It was duly accepted by the respondents. Therefore, the NRI certificate produced before this Court cannot be said to be not as per the prescribed format. In all aspects, the petitioner’s sponsor proved that he is an NRI and he is employed outside India. Therefore, the objections raised by the respondents cannot be countenanced, and the candidature of the petitioner can be considered under the NRI quota.
14. In view of the above, the petitioner shall produce the NRI certificate issued by the Indian Embassy at Kuwait and the NRI bank statement for the past six months before the respondents by today (13.10.2025) itself. On production of the same, the respondents shall accept it and admit the petitioner under the NRI quota for B.V.Sc & A.H.
Course at TANUVAS for the academic year 2025-26.

15. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is allowed as indicated above. No costs.
13.10.2025
Index : Yes/No
Neutral citation : Yes/No Speaking/non-speaking order kv
To
1. The Vice-Chancellor (I/C), TANUVAS
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony.
2. The Registrar TANUVAS
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony.
3. The Controller of Examinations and Director,
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony.
of 11
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN, J.
kv W.P.No.38418 of 2025
13.10.2025
of 11