CHENNAI, Aug 13: Justice SS Subramani of the Madras High Court today withdrew from the case relating to conferring degrees by foreign universities in India, saying that he has been receiving anonymous letters and phone calls, asking him to pass orders in a particular manner in the case.

When newsmen met him at his chamber, he said ever since he reserved orders on two petitions seeking to vacate the stay in the case granted earlier, he had been receiving anonymous letters and phone calls, giving him instructions on how to handle the case. However, there has been no threat, he clarified.

The post-card he received on Tuesday said the writer was a senior counsel, not regularly attending the court. The caller on the telephone told him he was residing nearby.

While passing interim orders on a writ petition from R Sethuraman, Justice N V Balasubramaniam on July 29 had restrained the authorities concerned from allowing some foreign universities to collect fees, conduct classes and confer degrees on students in India.

They are the University of Leeds, the Bombay Study Centre, the Ateson Institute of Management Studies, Aptech, First Computers, Man Comp Professional Services (P) Ltd and the Durhan University Business School, UK.

Aggrieved, First Computers and Man Comp Professional Services filed two petitions in the High Court to vacate the stay. Following change of portfolios of judges, the matter came up before Justice Subramani, who on Aug 7 reserved orders on the plea.

Now that the judge has withdrawn, the petitions for vacating the stay have to be heard afresh by another judge.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.