#CLAT2015 Convenor given 12 days to re-assess, revaluate – Bombay HC (Read judgment)

The game is far from over. A judgment from the Bombay High Court is likely to result in a complete re-shuffle of the CLAT allotment process. A Division Bench of Justices Mohta and Achliya have now asked the CLAT Convenor to re-convene an Expert panel to examine the disputed questions and answer key..On the previous date of hearing, the court had sought an explanation from the CLAT authorities with respect to the findings of the expert committee. Evidently, these explanations did not find favour with the court..“We are inclined to record now, as by single liner answers, the expert has decided the objections and retained their published key answers.….We are not convinced by the single liner order of the experts as the questions involved are of general nature and certainly not technical or complicated in nature.“(Read full judgment below).Not only must a new Expert Panel be constituted but the said Panel must also provide reasons for its decisions qua the seven disputed questions or “other connected issues”. Most significantly, the court has directed that “if necessary” a revised merit result is to be prepared..The onus now clearly lies on the Expert Panel and the CLAT Convenor, with the court observing that,.“The objections so filed, if decided for and/or against, the Respondents and/or its Authority, would be in position to take decision being Expert Panel/Committee, to revise the list after due assessment, if objections are correct, and if the objections are rejected by giving reasons, they can maintain the merit lists so prepared.”.And all this within twelve days from the date of passing the order, that is by July 14, 2015..With respect to what effect this order may have on the allotment process, one that is nearly complete, the court stated,.“There is no choice but to pass the following order which may affect even the lists so already declared and/or published but if the case is made out and if ultimate decision goes in favour of the Petitioner and/or similarly situated person, for revision and/or revaluation or reassessment, the Respondents have to take effective steps even of revaluation and re appraisal and revision of the list at the earliest.”.The specific directions of the court are listed below:.a) Respondent No. 1 CLAT to appoint an Expert Panel/Committee, as early as possible, preferably within 5 days from today and refer 7 objections/ questions or other connected issues, for clarification/explanation, for their consideration immediately..b) The Expert Panel/Committee to clarify and/or take decision with reasons on all the objections/questions, as recorded within 3 days thereafter, by following the due process of law..c) The Expert Panel/Committee to take effective decision and actions for repreparing and/or revising the merit list of candidates, if necessary, (CLAT15) after revaluation and/or assessment, if required, or pass or declare such results/merit list immediately, within 4 days thereafter..d) It is made clear that (CLAT2015), the whole merit list and all subsequent process, will be subject to outcome of the Expert Panel/Committee’s decision, so referred above, which will be taken as early as possible by all the concerned, to avoid further delay of any kind.As reported earlier, the petitioner’s arguing counsel was senior advocate Kevic Setalvad while senior counsel Ravi Kadam argued on behalf of the CLAT Convenor..(Last updated at 11:00 on July 4, 2015)