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Judgment
Learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has appeared for the APRCET Examination for the academic year 2024-2025 and secured 24th rank. The petitioner was initially allotted a Ph.D. program in the Zoology Department. The Petitioner has completed B.Pharmacy in the year 2016 and M.Pharmacy in the year 2024.
The petitioner was also issued a provisional allotment letter attached to the second respondent University for pursuing Ph.D. program in Department of Zoology. When the petitioner approached the Director of Admissions of the 2nd respondent, the petitioner was informed that she does not meet the eligibility criteria for admission to the Ph.D. program in Zoology subject.
The second respondent has issued the criteria for admission to the Ph.D. course in Zoology Department, the student ought to have completed post-graduation in Aquaculture, Animal Biotechnology, Marine Living Resources, Marine Biology, or Zoology. In so far as Pharmacology is concerned, the same does not form part of the eligibility criteria to enable the petitioner to pursue the Ph.D. course.
In this regard, the petitioner submitted representations to the respondent authorities. It is submitted that the Head of the Department of Zoology, vide letter dated 30.07.2026, addressed a letter to the Director of Admissions of the 2nd respondent University, categorically stating that Pharmacology is a part and parcel of Zoological research and that it need not be mentioned in the eligibility criteria separately, and that the petitioner is eligible for pursuing Ph.D. program in Zoology Department, thus requested to consider the admission of the petitioner for Ph.D. course in Zoology Department.
It is also submitted that on the same day, the Director of Admissions also addressed a letter to the Head of the Department, Zoology, seeking revised eligibility criteria for implementation on the request of the Head of the Department.
It is further submitted that the Departmental Review Committee, consisting of four professors of the 2nd respondent University, have discussed the eligibility of the petitioner for pursuing Ph.D. and it was resolved that Pharmacology is concerned with animals, and it was resolved to send the revised eligibility criteria for admission into research program in Zoology as per the letter addressed by the Director of Admissions of the second respondent.
The said minutes of meeting were signed on 31.07.2026.
Learned Standing Counsel appearing for respondent Nos. 2, 4, and 5 submits that the revised eligibility criteria for admission to the Zoology by including Pharmacy was submitted to the Dean, Academic Affairs for approval on 31.07.2026 by the Principal, Andhra University College of Science and Technology by the Head of the Department, Zoology.
Considering the submissions, the writ petition can be disposed of.
The Dean of Academic Affairs has recommended including Pharmacy under the revised eligibility criteria for admission into Ph.D. program in Zoology. The Head of the Department of Zoology has also categorically stated that Pharmacology is a part and parcel of Zoological research, and that Zoology plays a major role in Pharmacology while dealing with drugs to study on animals and study on animal models in clinical research. It is also specifically stated by the Head of the Department, Zoology, that Zoology is a basic life science, as such, all the applied sciences should be taken into consideration for research. It is also further stated that the Pharmacy students are attending classes in Animal Anatomy and Physiology classes in the Zoology Department.
Considering the letter of the Head of the Department dated 30.07.2026, the letter of the Director of Admissions dated 30.07.2026, and the recommendation of the D.R.C., dated 31.07.2026, the respondents shall have to consider the petitioner for admission into the Ph.D. Zoology.
The petitioner has appeared for the APRCET 2024-2025 batch examination. In order to save the academic career of the petitioner, the respondents shall have to pass necessary orders duly allotting the petitioner a seat in the Ph.D. course in the Zoology Department.
With the above observations, the Writ Petition stands disposed of.
There shall be no order as to costs.
Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed.