The University of Madras has filed a writ appeal in the Madras High Court against a recent ruling that would allow Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer Pa Moorthy to be classified as having achieved a first-class degree in his Masters in Law (M.L.) despite scoring 59.91%. The university argues that its regulations do not permit rounding off marks, a point that has sparked significant legal debate.
On Tuesday, the First Division Bench, led by Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar and Justice M. Jothiraman, adjourned the hearing on the university’s appeal for one week due to time constraints. This decision follows an earlier stay issued by another bench on February 8, which halted the single judge’s order that favored Moorthy.
In 2022, DIG Pa Moorthy, who serves in the Tirunelveli Range, filed a writ petition stating that he completed the M.L. course through private study at the University of Madras during the 2018-19 academic year. Despite a demanding schedule, he sought to have his score rounded up to 60%, as he fell short of first-class classification by a mere 0.09%.
Justice Abdul Quddhose, who heard the case in July 2022, referenced a similar ruling from 2017 in which another student’s marks were also rounded off to 60%. He emphasized Moorthy’s dedication to his studies despite his professional commitments and allowed his petition for a first-class designation.
In response to this ruling, the University of Madras and its Controller of Examinations contend that the authority to modify marks in such a manner is not granted by their established regulations. This ongoing legal battle raises questions about academic policies and the extent of judicial intervention in educational matters.
As the appeal progresses, all eyes will be on the High Court’s upcoming decision, which could set a significant precedent regarding the treatment of marginal score discrepancies in academic classifications.
