The Delhi High Court has stayed the operation of a Central Government notice inviting applications for the post of three Legal Research Associates..As per the notice dated May 28, 2019 issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the educational qualification for the post of Legal Research Associate was,.“Five-year integrated bachelor’s degree in law from a recognised university or a National Law University with not less than 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in aggregate of all semesters/years upto final examination”..The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru in a petition by Akash Verma assailing the notice..It was the Petitioner’s grievance that inviting only those candidates which had a five-Year bachelor of law degree, while excluding the graduates from three-year law programs, was in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India..The petitioner submitted that the three-year course and the five-year course were “similar leveled degrees” and equally recognized by the Bar Council of India. Hence, there was no ground whatsoever for the Central Government to make a specific differentiation between the graduates of the five-year and three-year law program by the notice..After hearing the petitioner, the Court observed that prima facie, there was merit to the challenge as both the programs entail equivalent qualification..The Court, thus, issued notice to the Central Government and proceeded to stay the operation of the notice. It has directed the Central Government to not process any application received pursuant to it, stating,.“.. in the meantime, the Respondent shall not process any application pursuant to the notice 28.5.2019.”.Nonetheless, it has clarified that the Central Government was at liberty to issue an amended notice, including the three-year degree in law from a recognized university as an acceptable educational qualification..If such an amended notice is issued, this order will not come in the way of the respondents to receive and process applications received pursuant to the amended notice, the Court added..The petitioner was represented by Advocate Nikhil Sharma..The matter will be heard next on September 6..Read the Order:
The Delhi High Court has stayed the operation of a Central Government notice inviting applications for the post of three Legal Research Associates..As per the notice dated May 28, 2019 issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the educational qualification for the post of Legal Research Associate was,.“Five-year integrated bachelor’s degree in law from a recognised university or a National Law University with not less than 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in aggregate of all semesters/years upto final examination”..The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru in a petition by Akash Verma assailing the notice..It was the Petitioner’s grievance that inviting only those candidates which had a five-Year bachelor of law degree, while excluding the graduates from three-year law programs, was in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India..The petitioner submitted that the three-year course and the five-year course were “similar leveled degrees” and equally recognized by the Bar Council of India. Hence, there was no ground whatsoever for the Central Government to make a specific differentiation between the graduates of the five-year and three-year law program by the notice..After hearing the petitioner, the Court observed that prima facie, there was merit to the challenge as both the programs entail equivalent qualification..The Court, thus, issued notice to the Central Government and proceeded to stay the operation of the notice. It has directed the Central Government to not process any application received pursuant to it, stating,.“.. in the meantime, the Respondent shall not process any application pursuant to the notice 28.5.2019.”.Nonetheless, it has clarified that the Central Government was at liberty to issue an amended notice, including the three-year degree in law from a recognized university as an acceptable educational qualification..If such an amended notice is issued, this order will not come in the way of the respondents to receive and process applications received pursuant to the amended notice, the Court added..The petitioner was represented by Advocate Nikhil Sharma..The matter will be heard next on September 6..Read the Order:
