Shruti Bedi v. Panjab University and Others

HARSH BUNGER, J. Petitioner (Shruti Bedi) has filed the instant writ petition under Articleso226/227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oseekingoaowritoinotheonatureoofo certiorario foro quashingo ofo ordero datedo 31.05.2023o (Anne ureo !"13#o a$$ointingo res$ondento %o.6o aso &ire'toro ofo (ni)ersit*o Instituteo ofo +ega,o -tudies,o!an.a/o(ni)ersit*o(res$ondento%o.0#.o o o Aofurtheroprayerohasobeenomadeoforoissuingoaowritoinotheonatureo ofoQuo-WarrantooagainstorespondentoNo.6,owhooisostatedotoohaveousurpedotheo publicopostoofoDirectoroofoUniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudies,ohavingobeeno appointedovideoorderodatedo31.05.2023o(AnnexureoP-13)odespiteonotobeingo qualifiedoasoperotheoprovisionsoofoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008.o o o Anotheroprayerohasobeenomadeoforoissuingoaowritoinotheonatureoofo mandamuso directingo respondento Nos.1o too 3o too appointo theo petitionero aso Directoro ofo respondento No.4-Universityo Instituteo ofo Legalo Studies,ooooooooooooooooo Panjabo University,o Chandigarh,o beingo theo senior-mosto eligibleo facultyo member,oasoperotheoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008o(AnnexureoP-2)oreado witho Panjabo Universityo Ruleso ofo Headshipo ofo Teachingo Departmentso ofo PanjaboUniversityoCalendar,o2019o(AnnexureoP-1).o

2.o o Briefly,otheoUniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudieso(here-in-aftero calledoaso`theoInstitute')owasoconstitutedobyotheoPanjaboUniversityoinotheoyearo 2004;o whereino theo programmeo ofo fiveo years'o degreeo ino B.A.o LL.B.o ando B.Como LL.B,o aso wello as,o programmeso awardingo oneo yearo ando twoo yearso LL.M.oDegreesoareoundertakenoandodegreesoareoawarded.oItoisostatedothato respondentoNo.4-Instituteohasosecuredotheoapproval/affiliationofromotheoBaro CounciloofoIndiao(respondentoNo.5)owhichoisotheogoverningobodyoinocasesoofo institutionsoimpartingolegaloeducationoinoIndia.oo

3.o o ThenothereoareoRulesoofoHeadshipoofoTeachingoDepartmentoofo PanjaboUniversityo(inoshorto`RulesoofoHeadship')oasoperoPanjaboUniversityo Calendar,o2019;owhereby,oeachoandoeveryodepartmentoofotheoUniversityoiso requiredotoohaveoaoChairperson/Head,owhooisodesignatedobyotheoSenateoonotheo recommendationso ofo theo Syndicate.o Ruleo 2.1o ofo theo Ruleso ofo Headshipo providesoforoappointmentoofoChairperson/HeadoofotheoDepartmentoonorotationo basiso fromo amongsto theo Professorso byo maintainingo ao seniorityo thereof.o Further,oinotermsoofoRuleo2.3oofotheoRulesoofoHeadship,otheoChairperson/Heado ofotheoDepartmentoholdsotheoofficeoforoaoperiodoofothreeoyearsoandoafterotheo cessationoofotheosaidoperiod,otheopostoisofilledoupofromoamongstotheoothero eligibleo candidateso ino theo Departmento byo wayo ofo rotation.o Theo aforesaido Ruleso2.1oando2.3oofotheoRulesoofoHeadship,oreadoasoundero:-o "2.1o EachoTeachingoDepartmentoshallohaveoao Chairperson/HeadotoobeodesignatedobyotheoSenateo onotheorecommendationsoofotheoSyndicateoinotheo manneroprovidedoasounder:-o

(i)(a)o Theo Chairperson/Heado ofo ao Departmento shallo beo designated,o byo rotation,ofromoamongstotheoProfessorsoino theo Departmento appointedo byo wayo ofo directorecruitmentoorobyowayoofopromotiono orobyoanyootheromethodoapprovedobyotheo Senate,oaccordingotoolengthoofoserviceoaso sucho ino theo Panjabo University,o irrespectiveoofotheomethodoofoappointment.o

(b)o Ino caseo theo lengtho ofo serviceo aso Professorso appointedo byo wayo ofo directo recruitmentoorobyowayoofopromotionoorobyo anyootheromethodoapprovedobyotheoSenateo isoequal,othenotheoChairperson/Headowillo beodesignatedoonotheobasisoofotheirointer-seo seniorityo ino theo lowero cadre.o However,o fromo amongsto Professorso directlyo recruitedo ono theo sameo dayo byo theo sameo Selectiono Committee,o theiro turno foro designationoasoChairperson/Headoshallobeo determinedo ono theo basiso ofo theo rankingo approvedobyotheoSenate.o

(ii)o xxxo o xxxo o o oo

2.2.o o xxxo o xxxo o o

2.3.o Ao persono designatedo aso Chairperson/Headoofo theo Departmentoshalloholdo officeoasosuchoforoaoperiodoofothreeoyearsoandoshallo notobeoeligibleoforodesignationoforotheosecondotimeo tillo allo theo Professors/Associateo Professor/AssistantoProfessoroinotheo Departmento haveo beeno designatedo aso Chairperson/Heado ino accordanceowithoRuleo2.1.o o o However,o whereo noo othero Professor/AssociateoProfessor/AssistantoProfessoro isoavailableooroeligible,otheosameopersonocanobeo allowedotoocontinueoasoChairperson/Headoofotheo Departmentoforoaoperiodoofoanotherothreeoyearsooro tillo theo nexto persono ino theo Departmento becomeso eligible,owhicheveroisoearlier.o o o Providedo thato ao Chairperson/Heado ofo ao Departmento ono attainingo theo ageo ofo superannuationoi.e.o60oyearsoshalloceaseotooholdo officeoasosuch."o o o Ruleo 2.7o ofo theo Ruleso ofo Headshipo provideso foro powerso ando functionsoofotheoChairperson/HeadoofotheoDepartment.oo

4.o o Further,o theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao (respondento No.5),o whileo exercisingoitsopowerounderoSectionso7(1)(h)oando(i),o24(1)(c)(iii)oando(iii-a),o 49(1)(af),o(ag)oando(d)oofotheoAdvocates'oAct,o1961o(here-in-afteroreferredotoo aso`1961oAct')ohasopromulgatedotheoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008o(here-in-afteroreferredotooaso`2008oRules'),owhicholaysodownotheominimumostandardso requiredotoobeofulfilledobyoanyoInstitute/oCollege/Universityoforoundertakingo programmesoawardingodegreesoinolaw.oPetitioneroclaimsothatotheoafore-saido 2008oRulesoareofullyoapplicableouponorespondentoNo.4-Institute,oasotheosaido InstituteoisoaoCenteroofoLegaloEducation,oasodefinedounderoRuleo2(iv)oofotheo 2008oRules,owhichoreadsoasoundero:-o "2(iv)o CentresoofoLegaloEducation"omeanso

(a)o Allo approvedo Departmentso ofo Lawo ofo Universities,o Collegeso ofo Law,o Constituento Collegeso undero recognizedo Universitieso ando affiliatedo Collegeso oro SchoolsoofolawooforecognizedoUniversitieso sooapproved.o o o o ProvidedothatoaoDepartmentooroCollegeo oroInstitutionoconductingocorrespondenceo coursesothroughodistanceoeducationoshallo notobeoincluded.o

(b)o Nationalo Lawo Universitieso constitutedo andoestablishedobyostatutesoofotheoUniono oroStatesoandomandatedotoostartoandoruno Lawocourses."o o

5.o o Aso pero Ruleo 26o ofo theo 2008o Rules,o theo recognition/approvaloooooooooooooo tooooperateooaooCentreoofooLegaloEducationoisoaccordedobyoBaroCounciloofo Indiao(respondentoNo.5).oRuleo26oofotheo2008oRulesoreadsoasoundero:-o "26.o Approvalo oo Theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao ono theo recommendationo ofo theo Legalo Educationo CommitteeoshalloinstructotheoSecretaryotoosendoao letteroofoapprovaloofoanyooneoofotheofollowingotypeo tootheoHeadoofotheoInstitutionoasowelloasotootheo RegistraroofotheoUniversity:o

(a)k Temporaryo approval:o Ono theo Initialo inspectiono reporto oro Regularo Inspectiono reporto theoLegaloEducationoCommitteeomayorecommendo aotemporaryoapprovaloforonotomoreothanoaoperiodo ofothreeoyearsotooaonewlyoproposedoinstitutionoino GURPREET KAUR theoeventotheoinstitutionohasofacilitiesoenoughotoo commenceo theo teachingo programo ono sucho conditionso aso theo Legalo Educationo Committeeo mayoprescribe.o

(b)k Regularo approvalo :o Ao regularo approvalo mayobeorecommendedoforonotomoreothanoaoperiodo ofo fiveo yearso wheno ano institutiono fulfillso allo standardo seto normso ando haso theo capabilityo ofo maintainingo sucho standardo continuously.o Sucho regularoapprovaloshalloentitleosuchoinstitutionotoo seekoaccreditationofromotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiao whoocanodootheosameoeitheroofoitsoownoaccordingo toorulesoofoaccreditationooromayocauseoitodoneobyo theo Nationalo Assessmento ando Accreditationo Council."o

6.o o Ruleo14oofotheo2008oRuleso(AnnexureoP-2)oprovidesothatoCentreso ofoLegaloEducationonototooimpartoeducationowithoutoapprovaloofoBaroCouncilo ofoIndia.oRuleo16oofotheo2008oRulesolaysodownotheoconditionsoforoaouniversityo too affiliateo ao Centreo ofo Legalo Education,o whicho inter-aliao requireso sucho CentreotoohaveoaoseparateoPrincipal,owhooshouldobeoqualifiedoinoLawotoobeoao ProfessoroofoLaw.oRuleo17oofotheo2008oRulesoprovidesothatoeveryodepartmento oroconstituentoinstituteoofotheouniversityoisomandatedotoofulfillotheominimumo standardsoofo requiremento asohaveobeenoprescribedobyo theo Baro Counciloofo IndiaoandoRuleo18oofotheo2008oRulesoprovidesothatoeveryodepartment,ofaculty,o constituentoandoaffiliatedoCentreoofoLegaloEducationoareorequiredotoohaveotheo minimumorequiredoinfrastructuralofacilitiesoasoenvisagedoundero2008oRules.o Ruleso16,o17oando18oofotheo2008oRules,oreadsoasoundero:-o "16.o ConditionsoforoaoUniversityotooaffiliateoao CentreoofoLegaloEducationo o(1)o WhenoaoUniversityoreceivesoanoapplicationo foroaffiliationoofoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducationotoo provideolegaloeducationobyorunningoprofessionalo degreeoprogramoinolawounderoeitheroorobothotheo streams,o theo Universityo mayo beforeo decidingo whetheroitoisofitocaseoforoseekingoinspectionofromo theoBaroCounciloofoIndia,oshalloensureothatoo

(i)o theo applicanto organizationo proposingo too runotheoinstitutionoisoeitheroalreadyoaonon-profito organizationoofotrustoororegisteredosocietyooroao non-profitocompanyooroanyootherosucholegaloentityo orohasotakenoallolegaloformalitiesotoobeoasosuch,o

(ii)o theo institutiono haso ino itso nameo eithero ino freeholdo oro leasehold,o adequateo lando ando buildings,o too provideo foro Centreo ofo Legalo Educationobuilding,olibrary,o hallso ofo residenceso separatelyo foro maleo ando femaleo ando sportso complexobothoindooroandooutdoor,osoothatoitocano effectivelyorunoprofessionalolawocoursesoprovidedo thatoinocaseoofoleaseholdotheoleaseoisonotolessothano tenoyears,o oo Providedo thato sufficiento ando adequateo flooro spaceo areao speciallyo ando completelyo devotedoforoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducation,obasedo ono theo sizeo ofo itso studento population,o facultyo requirement,o adequateo spaceo requiredo foro infrastructureo facilitieso cano beo consideredo sufficiento accommodationo foro theo purposeo ino ao multi-facultyobuildingoonolandopossessedobyotheo Managemento ofo ao Society/Trusto runningo multi-facultyoinstitutions.o

(iii)o recruitedo oro takeno stepso too recruito adequateonumberoofofullotimeoandovisitingofacultyo membersotooteachoeachosubjectsoofostudies,oeacho facultyohavingoatoleastoaoMasteroDegreeoinotheo respectiveo subjecto aso requiredo undero theo UGCo Rules,o

(iv)o thereo iso theo separateo Centreso ofo Legalo Educationoforotheostudyoofolawounderoaoseparateo PrincipalowhooshouldobeoqualifiedoinoLawotoobeo ao Professoro ofo Lawo aso stipulatedo undero UGCo andoBaroCounciloofoIndiaorules,o

(v)o thereoisoadequateospaceofororeadingoinotheo libraryoandothereoareorequiredonumberoofobookso andojournalsoandoadequateonumberoofocomputerso ando computero terminalso undero ao qualifiedo librarian,o

(vi)o ifo theo prioro permissiono ofo theo Stateo Governmento iso necessary,o ao noo objectiono certificateoisoobtainedotooapplyoforoaffiliation,o

(vii)o ao minimumo Capitalo Fundo aso mayo beo requiredounderoScheduleoIIIofromotimeotootimeobyo theoBaroCounciloofoIndia,oandoputointooaoBanko AccountoinotheonameoofotheoproposedoCentreoofo Legalo Educationo sponsoredo byo anyo privateo sponsoroorosponsors,oando

(viii)o allootheroconditionsoofoaffiliationoundero theoUniversityorulesoasowelloasotheoBaroCouncilo ofoIndiaoRulesoareocompliedowith."o

(2)o Afteroaffiliationoorderoisoreceivedofromotheo UniversityotheoCentresoofoLegaloEducationomayo onlyothenoapplyoforoinspectionobyotheoBaroCouncilo ofoIndia.o

17.o Wheno cano Universityo applyo foro inspectionoforoconstituentoCollegeooroUniversityo DepartmentooroFacultyo WhenoaoUniversityoproposesotoorunoaoprofessionalo degreeocourseoinolawoofoeitheroorobothostreamsoino itso Facultyo oro Departmento oro ino anyo ofo itso constituentoCollegeoitoshalloensureotheominimumo standardso ofo requiremento (aso prescribed)o ando thenoshalloinoeachoproposaloseekoinspectionobyotheo teamoofoinspectionoofotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaobyo submissiono ofo applicationo witho allo necessaryo informationowithinotheostipulatedodateonotifiedobyo theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao everyo year,o ino appropriateoForm.o

18.o InspectionoofoaoUniversityo

(1)o Ao Universityo seekingo recognitiono ofo itso degreeoinolawoforotheopurposeoofoenrolmentoinotheo Bar,oshalloprovideotheoinspectingocommitteeoofotheo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao allo necessaryo facilitieso too examineo theo syllabuso ofo theo courseo designed,o teachingo ando learningo process,o evaluationo system,oinfrastructureolayoutoandootheronecessaryo conditionso ino generalo ando shallo ensureo ino particularo thato allo Universityo Departmentalo Centres,o Faculty,o Constituento ando affiliatedo Centreso ofo Legalo Educationo proposingo too offero lawo courseso undero eithero oro botho theo streams,o possess:o

(i)k Requiredo infrastructuralo facilitieso outlinedounderotheoBaroCounciloofo IndiaoRules;o

(ii)k Requiredo numbero ofo teachingo facultiesoasoprescribedobyotheo Baro CounciloofoIndiaoandotheoUniversityo GrantsoCommission;o

(iii)k Facilitieso foro impartingo practicalo legalo educationo specifiedo ino theo curriculumo undero theo Ruleso ando Legalo Aido Clinic,o Courto Trainingo andoMootoCourtoexercises;o

(iv)k Adequateo library,o computero ando technicalofacilitiesoincludingoon-lineo

(v)k Ino caseo ofo ao Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo sponsoredo byo privateo initiativeo ofo ao persono thereo iso ao Capitalo Fundo aso requiredo ino theo ScheduleoIIIobyotheoBaroCounciloofo Indiaofromotimeotootime,odepositedo inotheoBankoAccountoinotheonameoofo theo Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo concerned.o

(2)o Foro theo aboveo purposeo theo InspectionoCommitteeoofotheoBaroCouncilo ofoIndiaoshallohaveopowerotoocalloforoando examineo allo relevanto documents,o enquireo intoo allo necessaryo informationo ando physicallyovisitoandoenquireoatotheolocationo ofo theo Department,o Faculty,o Constituento andoaffiliatedoCentresoofoLegaloEducationo asotheocaseomayobe.o oo Providedothatoanoapplicationoforoao newo proposalo foro affiliationo ando theo relatedoUniversityoinspectionothereforeobyo theo Inspectiono Committeeo ofo theo Baro Councilo ofo India,o includingo theo localo enquiryoatotheositeoofotheoproposedoCollegeo mayo beo formallyo madeo directlyo byo theo authorityo ofo theo proposedo Collegeo (Faculty,o Universityo Department,o ConstituentooroCentresoofoLegaloEducationo asotheocaseomayobe)oinoproperoFormowitho requiredo informationo ando requisiteo feeso providedo thato ano advanceo copyo ofo theo applicationo musto beo submittedo too theo Universityo concerned,o withino theo stipulatedo dateo aso notifiedo byo theo Baro CounciloofoIndia."o

7.o o ScheduleoIIIoofotheo2008oRules,oprovidesoforotheoinfrastructuralo facilitiesorequiredoinoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducationoforoapplyingopermissionotoo runolawocoursesowithoaffiliationofromoanoIndianoUniversity.oClauseo16oofo ScheduleoIIIoofotheo2008oRules,oasowouldobeorelevantoforotheoinstantocase,o readsoasounder:-o ScheduleoIIIo o Minimumo infrastructuralo facilitieso re9uiredo inoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducationoforoapplyingo permissionotoorunolawocoursesowithoaffiliationo fromoanoIndianoUniversity.o o Academicoinfrastructureo "15.o MinimumoLibraryorequirement:o o XXXo o XXXo o XXXo o

16.o WholeotimeoPrincipal/Head/Dean:oThereo shallo beo ao Principalo foro eacho constituento oro affiliatedo Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo ofo ao Universityo ando ao Deano foro theo Universityo Department,o whoo shallo haveo minimumo prescribedoqualificationoinolawoasoprescribedobyo theoUGCofororespectiveopositionolikeoPrincipaloofo aoCentreoofoLegaloEducationooroaoProfessoroofo LawotooholdoDeanship,oasotheocaseomayobe."o o

8.o o TheoUniversityoGrantsoCommissiono(inoshorto`theoUGC')ohaso issuedoUGCoRegulationsoonoMinimumoQualificationsoforoAppointmentoofo Teacherso ando othero Academico Staffo ino Universitieso ando Collegeso ando MeasuresoforotheoMaintenanceoofoStandardsoinoHigheroEducationoRules,o2018o (here-in-aftero calledo aso `2018o Regulations')o Regulationo 4.1(V)o ofo 2018o Regulationso(AnnexureoP-3)olaysodownotheoeligibilityoforoappointmentoasotoo theopostoofoCollegeoPrincipaloandoProfessor,owhichoisoasofollows:-o "4.0oDirectoRecruitmento

4.1o Foro theo Disciplineso ofo Arts,o Commerce,o Humanities,o Education,o Law,o Socialo Sciences,o Sciences,oLanguages,oLibraryoScience,oPhysicalo Education,o ando Journalismo &o Masso Communication.o IotooIVo xxxo o o xxxo o oo V.o Collegeo Principalo ando Professoro (Professor'soGrade)o A.o Eligibilityo:o

(i)o Ph.D.odegreeo

(ii)o Professor/AssociateoProfessorowithoaototalo service/oexperienceoofoatoleastofifteenoyearsoofo teaching/researchoinoUniversities,oCollegesoando otheroinstitutionsoofohigheroeducation.o

(iii)o Aominimumoofo10oresearchopublicationsoino peer-reviewedooroUGC-listedojournals.o

(iv)o Aominimumoofo110oResearchoScoreoasopero AppendixoII,oTableo2."o

9.o o Aso pero petitioner,o ino termso ofo theo 2008o Ruleso ando 2018o Regulations,o theo posto ofo Principal/Head/Deano ofo ano Institute,o whicho iso ao CentreoofoLegaloEducation,osuchoasotheorespondentoNo.4-Instituteoherein;otheo requirementoisothatoaocandidateoshouldopossessoPh.D.odegreeoinotheosubjectoofo Lawoandoshouldohaveotheototaloexperienceoofoatoleasto15oyearsoofoteachingoino theoconcernedosubject.oo

10.o o PetitioneroclaimsothatosheowasoappointedoasoaoLectureroinoLawoino respondento No.4-Instituteo ono 30.09.2004o ando waso placedo aso Senioro Scaleo Lecturero w.e.f.o 05.10.2008o video ordero datedo 31.07.2009o (Annexureo P-5).o PetitioneroisostatedotoohaveobeenopromotedoasoProfessoroofoLawoinopursuanceo too theo Careero Advancemento Schemeo (CAS)o w.e.f.o 05.10.2019o video ordero datedo04.06.2020o(AnnexureoP-6).o

11.o o Ito wouldo noto beo outo ofo placeo too mentiono hereo thato ino theo respondento No.4-Institute,o besideso theo Legalo Studies,o theo programmeso undertakenoatotheoDegreeoleveloalsooincludesosubjectsoofoSocialoSciences,o Commerceo etc.o Aso pero theo petitioner,o separateo faculty/ieso has/veo beeno engagedoandoareoworkingoinotheorespondentoNo.4-Institute,owhooareoteachingo theooaforesaidoosubjects/fieldsooandotheoexistingoseniorityolistoofotheoProfessorsoo inorespondentoNo.4-Instituteouptootheopetitioner,oisoasoundero:-o Sr.oNo.o Nameo Subjecto o

1.o ProfessoroRattanoSingho ProfessoroofoLawo o

2.o ProfessoroRajinderoKauro ProfessoroofoLawo o

3.o ProfessoroSarabjitoKauro ProfessoroofoPoliticaloScienceo o

4.o ProfessoroGulshanoKumaro ProfessoroofoEconomicso o

5.o ProfessoroChanchaloNarango ProfessoroofoEnglisho o

6.o ProfessoroNavneetoArorao ProfessoroofoSociologyo o

7.o ProfessoroShrutioBedio ProfessoroofoLawo o (Note:oAsoperostandoofoRespondentsoNo.o1otoo4,oProf.oChanchalo NarangoisoatoSr.oNo.o6oandoProf.oNavneetoAroraoisoatoSr.oNo.o5)o

12.o o Petitionero stateso thato aso pero theo aboveo seniorityo list,o onlyo ProfessoroRattanoSingh,oProfessoroRajinderoKauroandopetitioneroherselfoareo theoProfessorsoofoLaw;owhereas,otheootheropersonsoareoProfessorsoinodifferento fieldsonamely,oPoliticaloScience,oEconomics,oEnglishoandoSociology.o

13.o o Petitionero claimso thato theo respondento No.4-Institute,o beingo ao CentreoofoLegaloEducation,ohasoalwaysobeenoheadedobyoaoProfessoroofoLawo ando theo chargeo ofo Directoro ino theo respondento No.4-Instituteo (whicho iso ao nomenclatureo giveno ino placeo ofo Chairman/Heado aso prescribedo ino theo UniversityoRegulations)ohasoonlyobeenomannedobyoaoProfessoroofoLawoono rotationobasis,oasoundero:-o Sr.oNo.o Nameo&oDesignationo Periodo

1.o ProfessoroR.S.oGrewal,oProfessoroofoLawo 08.04.2004o too

31.10.2008o

2.o ProfessoroP.S.oJaswal,oProfessoroofoLawo 04.11.2008o too

23.07.2009oo

3.o ProfessoroSangitaoBhalla,oProfessoroofoLawo 24.07.2009o too

31.05.2017o

4.o ProfessoroRattanoSingh,oProfessoroofoLawo 01.06.2017o tooo

31.05.2020o

5.o ProfessoroRajinderoKaur,oProfessoroofoLawo 01.06.2020o tooo

31.05.2023o o

14.o o Accordingo too theo petitioner,o ino viewo ofo theo afore-statedo averments,o foro theo posto ofo Directoro ino respondento No.4-Institute,o theo candidate/facultyo members,o shouldo beo Professorso ofo Law;o however,o respondentoNo.6,owhooisoaoProfessoroofoPoliticaloScience;ohasobeenoappointedo aso ao Directoro w.e.f.o 01.06.2023o ino blatanto violationo ofo theo variouso Rules/Regulations.o

15.o o PetitioneroclaimsothatoearlierosheoandotheootheroLawofacultyoofo respondentoNo.4-Instituteohadosubmittedoaorepresentationodatedo14.09.2022o toorespondentoNo.4-Institute,ospecificallyoraisingotheoissueoquaoappointmento ofoaoDirectorohighlightingothatoonlyotheonextosenior-mostoProfessoroofoLawoino respondentoNo.4-InstituteowouldobeoeligibleoforoappointmentoasoaoDirectoro andoaocandidate/facultyomember,owhooisonotoaoProfessoroinotheoFieldoofoLaw,o shouldonotobeoconsideredoforotheosaidopost.oItoisostatedothatoaocopyoofotheo afore-saidorepresentationowasoalsooforwardedotootheoBaroCounciloofoIndiao (respondentoNo.5);owhereupon,otheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaohasoissuedoaolettero datedo03.11.2022o(AnnexureoP-8)oclearlyostatingothatotheoHeadooroDeanoofo DepartmentoofoLawoofoaoUniversityoisorequiredotoohaveominimumo15oyearso teachingoexperienceoinolaw.oo

16.o o SinceotheotermoofoProfessoroRajinderoKauroasoDirectorowasodueo tooendoono31.05.2023,otheopetitioneroalongowithootherofacultyomembersohado earliero filedo ao Writo Petitiono (CWPo No.4518o ofo 2023)o beforeo thiso Court,o seekingoaodirectionotootheoUniversityotoomakeoaoregularoappointmentotootheo postoofoDirectoroofoInstitute(respondentoNo.4oherein).oo

17.o o Inotheoafore-saidoWritoPetitionoNo.4518oofo2023,oBaroCounciloofo Indiaofiledoitsowrittenostatemento(AnnexureoP-9)otakingoaocategoricostandothato Ruleo 16(iv)o ando clauseo 16o ofo Scheduleo IIIo ofo theo 2008o Ruleso clearlyo mandatedothatoPrincipalo/oHeadoofotheoDepartmento/oDeanoofoaoCentreoofo LegaloEducationomustobeoaoperson,owhooisoqualifiedotoobeoProfessoroofolawo andoaoperson,owhooisootherwiseonotoqualifiedootoobeoProfessoroofolawocannoto beo Principalo /o Heado ofo theo Departmento /o Deano ofo ao Centreo ofo Legalo Education.o

18.o o Duringo theo pendencyo ofo Writo Petitiono No.4518o ofo 2023,o theo respondent-Universityopassedoanoorderodatedo31.05.2023o(AnnexureoP-13)o appointingo respondento No.6o aso Directoro ofo respondento No.4-Instituteoooooooooooo w.e.f.o01.06.2023.oItoappearsothatotheoafore-saidoWritoPetitionowasowithdrawno byotheopetitioneroandoothersobyosubmittingothatotheyowouldochallengeotheo orderodatedo31.05.2023,oappointingorespondentoNo.6ohereinoasoDirectoroofo respondentoNo.4-Institute.o

19.o o Inotheoafore-mentionedocircumstances,otheopresentowritopetitiono hasobeenofiledobyotheopetitionerobeforeothisoCourt.o

20.o o LearnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerosubmitsothatotheoBaro Councilo ofo Indiao haso enacted/promulgatedo theo Ruleso ofo Legalo Education,o 2008;oaccordingly,otheoprovisionsothereofoareobindingoonoallotheoUniversities/o Institutesothatohaveobeenograntedorecognition/approvalobyotheoBaroCounciloofo Indiao asotheosaido2008o Rulesohaveo theo forceo ofolaw.o Itoiso contendedothato respondentoNo.1-UniversityoandorespondentoNo.4-Institute,oinoorderotooseeko extensiono ofo recognition/approvalo fromo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao (respondento No.5)ohadosubmittedoanoaffidavitodatedo13.03.2020o(AnnexureoP-15)otootheo Baro Councilo ofo India,o specificallyo statingo thato theo Instituteo hado alreadyo appointedoaoqualifiedoHeadoofotheoInstituteoandothatotheyowouldoadhereotootheo EducationoRulesolaidodownobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.oo

21.o o Aso pero theo petitioner'so counsel,o ino termso ofo theo provisionso containedoino2008oRulesoreadowithoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofo2008oRules;o aoHeadoofotheoInstituteoi.e.otheoDirectoroinotheopresentocase,ocanoonlyobeo appointedo fromo amongsto theo facultyo members,o whoo fulfillo theo minimumo prescribedoqualificationoinotheofieldoofoLawoandofurtherohaveoaominimumo experienceoofo15oyearsoasosuch.oItoisosubmittedothatoorderodatedo31.05.2023o (AnnexureoP-13),oappointingorespondentoNo.6oasotheoDirectorooforespondento No.4-Institute,o iso ino violationo ofo theo provisionso ofo 2008o Ruleso reado witho RulesoofoHeadship,oasorespondentoNo.6oisoaoProfessoroofoPoliticaloScience;o thereforeosheodoesonotofulfillotheoaforesaidoconditions,oaccordingly,osheoisonoto eligibleotoobeoappointedoasoaoDirectoroandotheopetitioner,owhooisotheoonlyonexto eligibleocandidateobeingoaoProfessoroofoLaw,oisorequiredotoobeoappointedoaso theoDirectorooforespondentoNo.4-Institute.o

22.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitioneronextosubmitsothatotheo issueoasoregardsotheoauthorityoandovalidityoofotheo2008oRules,opromulgatedobyo theo Baro Councilo ofo India,o cameo upo foro considerationo beforeo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ofo Indiao ino ?Baro Councilo ofo Indiao Versuso Boardo ofo Management,oDayanandoCollegeoofoLaw'o2007(2)oSCCo202;owherein,oito wasoheldothatotheoRulesoframedobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaowouldoprevailo viz-a-vizo theo regulationo ofo theo University,o especiallyo onceo thereo waso noo provisionoinotheoUniversityoregulationothatowereocontraryotootheoRulesolaido downobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.o

23.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerofurtherosubmitsothatoino theoearlieroWritoPetitionoi.e.oCWPoNo.4518oofo2018,otheoBaroCounciloofoIndiao hadosubmittedoitsowrittenostatement;owherein,oitowasospecificallyostatedothatoito doesonotograntorecognitionotooUniversitiesounlessotheyofulfillotheorequirementso asohaveobeenosetooutobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia,oinoitsoRules/Regulationso ando theo qualificationso ofo teacherso ando othero faculty/infrastructureo ino Lawo Instituteso aso laido downo ino theo 2008o Rules,o areo bindingo ono theo Institutions/Universities,o whicho areo impartingo legalo educationo ino India.o Accordingly,oitoisocontendedobyolearnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerothato ino viewo ofo theo stando takeno byo theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao ino theo earlierooooooooooo CWPoNo.4518oofo2018,otheoPrincipal/HeadoofotheoDepartmentomustobeoao qualifiedoProfessoroofoLaw;ohowever,orespondentoNo.6ohasobeenoappointedoino anoillegaloandoarbitraryomanner.oo o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerocontendsothatoinotheo earliero CWPo No.4518o ofo 2018,o respondento No.1-Universityo hado alreadyo admittedothatorespondentoNo.4-InstituteoisoaoCenteroofoLegaloEducation,oaso definedounderoRuleo2(iv)oofotheo2008oRules.oHowever,oitoisosubmittedothatotheo UniversityohasotakenoaocontraryostandobyosubmittingothatotheoRulesolayingo downo theo minimumo infrastructureo requirementso areo noto applicableo too respondento No.4-Institute.o Ito iso contendedo thato onlyo ono accounto ofo sucho selectiveo implementationo ofo theo 2008o Rules,o theo impugnedo ordero datedo

31.05.2023,oappointingorespondentoNo.6oasotheoDirector,ohasobeenopassed.o o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerohasolastlyosubmittedo thatoaoperusaloofoRuleo2.7oofotheo2008oRulesowouldoclearlyoindicateothatoao HeadoofotheoTeachingoDepartment,odeohorsotheonomenclatureoofotheopost,o amongsto othero acts,o superviseso ando provideso academico leadershipo too theo Department,oactsoasotheofinancialoheadoofotheoDepartmentoandoco-ordinateso theo teaching,o researcho ando administrativeo worko ofo theo Department.o Ito iso submittedothatoonceotheo2008oRulesoclearlyoprescribeothatotheoHeadoofoeacho constituentoCentreoofoLegaloEducationowasorequiredotoofulfillotheominimumo prescribedoqualificationoinoLaw,oespeciallyoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofo2008o Rules,o whicho stateo thato thereo shouldo beo ao Principal/Head/Deano foro eacho Centreo ofo Legalo Education,o whoo fulfillso theo minimumo prescribedo qualificationo ino Law;o accordingly,o theo impugnedo ordero datedo 31.05.2023,o appointingorespondentoNo.6oasotheoDirectorooforespondentoNo.4-Institute,oiso clearlyounsustainable,obeingoinoviolationoofotheostatutoryoprovisions.o o o Ono theo basiso ofo theo afore-saido submissions,o learnedo senioro counseloforotheopetitioneropraysothatotheoinstantowritopetitionobeoallowedobyo quashingo theo ordero datedo 31.05.2023o (Annexureo P-13)o ando appropriateo directionsobeoissuedotoorespondentoNo.1-Universityotooappointotheopetitionero asotheoHeadooforespondentoNo.4-Institute.o

24.o o Perocontra,otheoafore-saidosubmissionsomadeoonobehalfoofotheo petitioner,ohaveobeenoopposedobyorespondent/Universityo(respondentsoNo.1o too4,oherein)oonotheogroundsowhichocanobe,ointer-alia,obroadlyosummedoupoaso under:-o a)k AsoperotheooldoRulesoofoLegaloEducationo(priorotoo2008o GURPREET KAUR Rules),otheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaointroducedoandoallowedo theo universitieso onlyo too starto B.A.LL.Bo 5o yearo degreeo course.o Therefore,o theo Panjabo Universityo startedo B.A.LL.Bo 5o yearo integratedo course,o ono self-supportingo basis,ofromotheosessiono2004-05;o b)k ThereoisonoosanctionedoregularopostoofoDirectoroinotheo Department.oTheodesignationoassignedotootheoappointeeoiso onlyohonorary.o c)k Allo theo Lawo Departmentso ofo theo University,o includingo UILSo ando theo Regionalo Centreso ofo theo University,o fallo underotheodefinitionoofoClauseo(iv)oofoRuleo2oofotheoRuleso ofo Legalo Education-2008o i.e.o "Centreo ofo Legalo Education".o They,o however,o areo noto Collegeso ofo Law,o constituentoCollegesounderotheorecognizedoUniversityoando affiliatedo Collegeso oro Schoolso ofo Lawo ofo recognizedo Universityo soo approvedo etc.o Thus,o theo UILSo iso noto ao `Constituento College'o oro `affiliatedo college'o ofo theo Universityobutoano"approvedodepartmentoofoLaw."o d)k Clauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofotheosaidoRules,o2008oapplieso too twoo Institutionso distinctlyo viz.,o thereo shallo beo ao "PRINCIPAL"oforoeachoconstituentooroaffiliatedoCentreo ofolegaloEducationoi.e.oConstituentooroaffiliatedoCollegeo andoaoDeanoforotheo"Universityodepartment",owhooshallo haveo minimumo prescribedo qualificationo ino lawo aso prescribedo byo theo UGCo foro respectiveo positiono likeo PrincipaloofoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducationooroaoProfessoro ofoLawotooholdoDeanship,oasotheocaseomayobe.oTherefore,o theoprovisionsoofoRuleo16oofotheoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o 2008oandoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIothereofotootheoextento thatothereoshallobeoaoPrincipaloforoeachoConstituentooro affiliatedoCentreoofoLegaloEducationoofoaoUniversityoareo notoapplicableotootheofactsoofotheoinstantopetition.o e)k TheoprovisionsoofoClauseo16otootheoeffectothatothereoshallo beoaoDeanoforotheoUniversityoDepartmentoareoapplicableo tootheocaseoinohand.oNoneoofotheoprovisionsoofoClauseo16o ofoScheduleoIIIoofoRulesoofoLegaloEducation-2008oapplyo forotheopostoofoDirectoroofoUILS;o f)k TheoacademicoaffairsoofotheodepartmentoofolawoandoUILSo ofotheoUniversityoandolawodepartmentsoofotheoRegionalo CentresoareobeingolookedoafterobyotheoFacultyoofoLawso establishedo byo theo University.o Theo `Facultyo ofo Laws'o consistsoofoDepartmentoofolawoandoUniversityoInstituteoofo legalo Studieso ofo theo University.o Ito squarelyo coverso theo requirementoofotheoprovisionsoofoClauseo16oofotheosaido Scheduleo IIIo foro havingo ao wholeo timeo Deano foro theo Universityo Department.o Deano (Law)o foro allo purposeso holdso deanshipo ofo allo theo departmentso ofo lawo ofo theo University.oAtopresent,oDr.oRajinderoKauro(Professoroofo Law)oisoDean,oFacultyoofoLaw.o g)k UILSo impartso B.A./B.Com.o LL.Bo (Hons.)o fiveo yearso integratedoCourseoasoperoClauseo(xiii)oofoRuleo2oofotheo Ruleso ofo Legalo Education-2008.o Theo Universityo offerso totalosubjectsoinoliberalodisciplineoinointegratedostreamoaso perotheoschemeolaidounderotheoprovisionsoofoRuleo3oando6,o Scheduleo IIo ofo theo Rules-2008.o Theo facultyo ofo UILSo consistso ofo Professors/Associateo Professors/Assistanto Professorso ino Lawo ando Socialo Scienceso i.e.o Politicalo Science,oEconomics,oSociology,oEnglish,oHistory.oAllotheo teacherso areo too beo appointedo aso pero theo provisionso ofo UGCoRegulationsoissuedofromotimeotootimeoandoadoptedo byotheoUniversity.oThereoisonooseparateolistoofoteacherso impartingoinstructionsoinolawosubjectsoandootherosocialo scienceo subjects.o Thereo iso oneo commono listo foro theo teachersoimpartingoinstructionsoinolawosubjectsoandoothero socialo scienceo subjectso ono theo basiso ofo theiro dateo ofo joiningo (directo recruitmento ando promotion).o Therefore,o eacho ando everyo teachero ofo UILSo iso entitledo too beo appointedo aso Directoro ofo UILSo byo rotationo aso pero theo provisionsoofoChapteroLII,oVol.oIII,oP.U.oCalendaro2019,o Pageo714opertainingotoo`RotationoofoHeadship-Teachingo Departments.'o Noneo ofo theo teacherso iso deniedo equalityo beforeolaw.oTheyoareoentitledotooequaloprotectionoofotheo lawsoandoequaloopportunityotoobeoappointedoasoDirectoro ofo UILSo irrespectiveo ofo theo facto thato he/sheo impartso instructiono ino lawo subjectso ando othero socialo scienceo subjects.o h)k Provisionso ofo Ruleo 17o ando 18o ofo 2008o Ruleso areo applicableoexceptoRuleo16oofo2008oRulesouponoanyoofotheo lawodepartmentoincludingoUILSoofotheoUniversityoandotheo RegionaloCentresoofotheoUniversity.o

i)k BaroCounciloofoIndiaoisonotoempoweredotooframeoRuleso regardingo recruitmentso ofo teachingo facultyo aso ito iso theo functionoofotheoUGCoandotheoUniversity.o j)k Baro Councilo ofo Indiao cannoto describeo theo dutieso too beo performedobyotheoprincipaloofoaffiliatedocollegeoetc.oando DeanoofotheoFaculty/Department.o k)k TheodecisionoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoino ?BaroCounciloofoIndiaoVersusoBoardoofoManagement,o Dayanando Collegeo ofo Law'o 2007(2)o SCCo 202;o iso noto applicableotootheoinstantocase.o l)k Affidavito (Annexureo P-15)o iso beingo misinterpretedo aso approvaloofoaffiliationoisobyoBaroCounciloofoIndiaoandonoto byo Universityo ando theo Institutiono iso ao Constituento DepartmentoofoPanjaboUniversity.o m)k UILSo iso ao constituento departmento ofo Universityo i.e.o establishedoandomaintainedobyotheouniversityounderoRuleo 17o ofo 2008o Ruleso whicho neithero requireo anyo prioro permissiono /o NOCo ofo theo Stateo Governmento noro anyo affiliationoofotheoUniversity.oo o o Onotheobasisoofoafore-saidosubmissions,oprayeroforodismissaloofo writopetitionowasomade.o

25.o o Aso regardso theo respondento No.5,o ao statemento waso madeo ono

17.07.2023obyotheolearnedoseniorocounselorepresentingorespondentoNo.5othato GURPREET KAUR theyo adopto theo replyo datedo 23.03.2023o filedo ino theo earliero writo petitionoooooooooooooo (CWP-4518-2023),owhichoisoattachedotootheowritopetitionoasoAnnexureoP-9.o Accordingly,otheostandoofoBaroCounciloofoIndiao(respondentoNo.5oherein)oaso indicatedoinoAnnexureoP-9ocanobeosummedoupobroadly,oasounder:o-o i.k TheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaoisoconstitutedounderoSectiono4o ofotheoAdvocatesoActoandoitoconsistsoofoAttorneyoGeneralo ofoIndia,otheoSolicitoroGeneraloofoIndia,obothoinotheiroex-officioocapacitiesoandooneomemberoelectedobyoeachoStateo BaroCouncilofromoamongstoitsomembersoandoitoisoabodyo corporate.oo ii.k BaroCounciloofoIndiaoisoanoindependentostatutoryobody,o whichohasobeenoentrustedotooregulateoLegaloEducation.o Theo functionso assignedo too Baro Councilo ofo Indiao areo enumeratedoinoSectiono7oofotheo1961oAct.oo iii.k Sectiono 7(1)(h)o ando (i)o ofo theo 1961o Acto layso downo theo functionoofotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaotoopromoteotheoLegalo Educationoandotoolayodownostandardsoofosuchoeducationo inoconsultationowithoUniversitiesoinoIndia,oimpartingosucho educationo ando Stateo Baro Councilso ando recognizeo Universities,o whoseodegreeo shallobeo aoqualificationo foro enrollmentoasoanoAdvocate,oincludingoinspectionoofosucho Universities.oo iv.k Referenceo iso madeo too theo judgmento renderedo byo theooooooooooooooooo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinoBaroCounciloofoIndiao versusoAparnaoBasuoMallicko1994(2)oSCCo102;owherein,o ito waso heldo thato Sectiono 49(1)(d)o empowerso theo Baro CounciloofoIndiaotoomakeorulesowhichomayoprescribeotheo standardso ofo legalo educationo too beo observedo byo UniversitiesoinoIndiaoandotheoinspectionoofoUniversitieso forothatopurposeoandoifotheoacquisitionoofoaodegreeoinolawo iso essentialo foro beingo qualifiedo too beo admittedo aso ano advocateo ono ao Stateo roll,o ito iso obviouso thato theo Baro CounciloofoIndiaomustohaveotheoauthorityotooprescribeotheo standardso ofo legalo educationo too beo observedo byo v.k Roleo ofo theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao ando thato ofo theo Universityo Grantso Commissiono iso independento ofo eacho other.oo vi.k UniversityoGrantsoCommission,ounderoitsoregulation,ohaso specificallyolaidodownothatotheoproposedocollegeoseekingo affiliationoshouldoalsoocomplyowithotheorequirementsoseto outobyoBaroCounciloofoIndia.oReferenceoisomadeotootheo provisionsoofoSectionso2.6,o3.1oando5.1oofotheoUniversityo Grantso Commissiono (Affiliationo ofo Collegeso byo UniversitiesoRegulations,o2009),owhichoreadoasounder:-o "2.o Definitions:oInotheseoRegulations:o

2.6o "Statutory/Regulatoryobody"omeansoaobodyo sooconstitutedobyoaoCentral/StateoGovernmentoActo foro settingo ando maintainingo standardso ino theo relevantoareasoofohigheroeducation,osuchoasoAllo IndiaoCounciloforoTechnicaloEducationo(ACTE),o MedicaloCounciloofoIndiao(MCI),oDentaloCouncilo ofo Indiao (DCI),o Nationalo Councilo foro Teachero Educationo(NCTE),oBaroCounciloofoIndiao(BCI),o etc.o

3.o Eligibilityo Criteriao foro Temporaryo Affiliation:-o

3.1.o Theoproposedocollegeoseekingoaffiliation,oato theo timeo ofo inspectiono byo theo University,o shallo satisfyo theo followingo requirementso oro theo requirementsoinorespectoofoanyoofothemoprescribedo byo theo Statutory/Regulatoryo bodyo concerned,o whicheveroisohigher.o

5.o Eligibilityo Criteriao foro Permanento Affiliationo:-o

5.1.o Theo collegeo shallo haveo completedo ato leasto fiveo yearso ofo satisfactoryo performanceo aftero gettingo temporaryo affiliationo ando attainedo theo academico ando administrativeo standardso aso prescribedo byo theo University/UGC/Statutory/o RegulatoryoBodyoconcernedofromotimeotootime."o vii.k Sectiono10(2)(b)oofotheoAdvocatesoActo1961,oempowerso Baro Councilo ofo Indiao too constituteo ao 'Legalo Educationo Committee",owhichoisodefinedounderoRuleo2(xvi)oofo2008o Rules.o thviii.k TheoLegaloEducationoCommitteeoatoitsomeetingoheldoono4 o May,o 2007o decidedo too circulateo drafto ruleso too allo theo universitieso ando Stateo Baro Councilso witho ao requesto too sendotheirocommentsoonotheosame.oItoisostatedothatotheoBaro Councilo ofo Indiao video itso lettero No.BCI:D:1518/2008o (LE/Ruleso Parto IV)o datedo 24.12.2008o circulatedo too theo Universities,otheogazetteorulesowhichowereonotifiedoinotheo GazetteoofoIndiaovideoPart-III,oSectiono4,oNewoDelhi,o21-27,o2009.oTheonewoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008,owereo implementedofromotheoacademicoyearo2009-2010.o ix.k Itoisomandatoryoandoobligatoryouponoallotheouniversitieso andoinstitutionsotooadaptotootheorulesoofoLegaloEducationo asoprescribedobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.oo x.k Theo2008oRulesoprovideoforominimumostandardsoofolegalo educationo ando thato theo Universitieso and/oro Institutionso canosetohigherostandardsoofoeducationoinoconformityowitho theominimumostandardsoofoLegaloeducationoasoprescribedo byotheo Baro CounciloofoIndia.o Theobroado outlineoofo theo academico standardso ando courseso too beo studiedo areo detailedooutoinoScheduleoIIoandotheoparametersopertainingo toominimumoinfrastructuralofacilitiesorequiredoareospelto outoonoScheduleoIIIoofotheoLegaloEducationoRules,o2008.o xi.k UnderotheorulesoofoBaroCounciloofoIndia,oScheduleoIII,o Clauseo 16,o prescribeso thato wholeo timeo Principal/Head/Deano foro eacho constituento ofo affiliatedo CentreoofoLegaloEducationoofoaoUniversityoandoaoDeanoforo theo Universityo Department,o whoo shallo haveo minimumo prescribedoqualificationoinolawoasoprescribedobyotheoUGCo fororespectiveopositionolikeoPrincipaloofoaoCentreoofoLegalo EducationooroaoProfessoroofoLawotooholdoDeanshipoasotheo caseomayobe.oo xii.k SinceotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaoisotheogoverningobodyowitho regardotootheostandardoofolegaloeducationotoobeoobservedo inotheoUniversities/InstitutesoinoIndia,otheoprovisionsoofo Clauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofo2008oRulesoareobindingoono allo institutes/Universitieso thato haveo beeno grantedo recognition/approvalobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.oo xiii.k Further,o Ruleo 16o ofo theo Rules,o 2008o layso downo theo ConditionsoforoaoUniversityotooaffiliateoaoCentreoofoLegalo EducationoandoasoperoRuleo16(iv),otheoCentreoforoLegalo EducationoisorequiredotoohaveoaoseparateoPrincipal,owhoo shouldobeoqualifiedoinoLawotoobeoaoProfessoroofoLaw.oRuleo 16(iv)oreadsoasoundero:-o "(iv)o thereo iso theo separateo Centreo ofo Legalo Educationoforotheostudyoofolawounderoaoseparateo PrincipalowhooshouldobeoqualifiedoinoLawotoobeoao Professoro ofo Lawo aso stipulatedo undero UGCo ando BaroCounciloofoIndiaorules."o xiv.k Legalo Educationo Ruleso 2008o undero Ruleo 16(iv)o ando Clauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofotheoLegaloEducationoRules,o 2008o clearlyo mandatedo thato Principal/Heado ofo theo Department/DanoofoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducationomustobeo aoperson,owhooqualifiedotoobeoProfessoroofoLawoandoao person,owhooisootherwiseonotoqualifiedotoobeoProfessoroofo LawocannotobeoPrincipal/HeadoofotheoDepartment/Deano ofoaoCentreoofoLegaloEducation.o Eveno theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao Vs.o Boardo ofo Managemento DayanandoCollegeoofoLawo&oOrs.:o(2007)2oSCCo202ohaso heldothatoaoDoctorateoholderoinoanyoofotheolawosubjectso couldo aloneo beo appointedo aso theo Principalo ofo ao Lawo College.oItofurtherostatedothatowhenoaorequestoisomadeoforo selectionoofoaoPrincipaloofoaolawocollege,otheoUniversityo ando theo Selectiono Committeeo haso too ensureo thato applicationsoareoinvitedofromothoseowhooareoqualifiedotoo beoprincipalsoofoaolawocollegeoinotermsoofotheoRulesoofotheo Baro Councilo ando fromo theo listo prepared,o ao persono possessingotheorequisiteoqualification,oisonominatedoando appointedoasotheoPrincipaloofoaolawocollege.o xv.k Anyoappointmentomadeocontraryotootheorelevantorulesoiso illegaloandonotosustainableoinotheoeyesoofolaw.o xvi.k Onoreceiptooforepresentationodatedo03.11.2022o(Annexureo P-8o ino earliero writo aso wello aso ino instanto writ),o ito waso warnedotootheoconcernedothatoifotheoruleoisonotofollowedo thenotheomatterowillobeoreferredotootheoLegaloeducationo Committeeoforonecessaryoaction.o

26.o o Respondento no.6o haso filedo hero separateo writteno statement;o wherein,oitohasobeeno statedo thatosheohasobeeno appointedoaso ao Directoroofo UniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudiesoinoaccordanceowithotheoserviceorulesoofo University,o whicho iso ano autonomouso institute.o Aso pero Ruleo 2.1(i)(a)o ofo ChapteroLIIoofoUniversityoCalendar,orespondentoNo.6ohasobeenoappointedobyo wayooforotationoinoaccordanceowithoseniority.oRespondentono.6ostatesothatosheo isotheosenioromostoProfessoroandoisotheoonlyoeligibleocandidateoasoperotheo serviceorulesoofotheoUniversity.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothatotheoBaroCounciloofo IndiaodoesonotoframeoserviceorulesoforoanyoUniversityoandoCollegeoandoasoao result,oitocannotodisturboseniorityolistoofoanyodepartmentoofoUniversity.oItoiso statedothatotheoDirectoroisoappointedobyowayooforotationoinoaccordanceowitho seniorityoasoprescribedobyoUniversityorulesoandodisturbingosuchoseniorityolisto wouldobeoultraoviresotheoequalityoprinciplesoasoenshrinedounderoArticleso14o ando16oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oItoisonextosubmittedothatotheocourses,o whichoareobeingoconductedobyotheoUniversity-InstituteoofoLegaloStudies,oareo integratedocourses,owhichoareoBA-LLBoandoB.Com.oLLBoandotheoUniversityo isoalsooimplementingotheoNationaloEducationoPolicyo2020oinoaophasedomannero whereoemphasisoisofromosingleodisciplineocoursesotoomulti-disciplineocourseso andoinoaochangingoscenario,oUniversityohasotooframeoserviceorulesowhichoareo ino coherenceo witho theo changingo environment.o Theo presento ruleo quao appointmentoofoDirectorobyowayooforotationoinoaccordanceowithoseniorityoiso completelyoinocoherenceowithochangingoeducationopolicy,owhichoisoneedoofo theohour.oo o o ItoisofurtherosubmittedobyorespondentoNo.6othatotheoUniversityo Instituteo ofo Legalo Studieso (UILS)o waso establishedo aso ao constituento departmentoofotheoUniversityobyotheoPanjaboUniversityoinotheoyearo2004oforo startingoB.A.oLL.B.o(Hons.)o5oyearsoIntegratedoCourse,oonoself-financingo basis,ofromotheoSessiono2004-2005.oTheoSyndicateovideoitsodecisionodatedo

09.12.2003oapprovedotheotransferoofooneopostoofoProfessoroandothreeopostsoofo LecturersofromotheoUniversityoteachingodepartmentsoforo5oyearsoB.A.oLL.B.o (Hons.)o integratedo courseo startingo fromo theo Sessiono 2004-2005.o Theo Syndicateo video itso decisiono datedo 24.01.2004,o approvedo theo Rules/RegulationsoforotheoB.A.oLL.B.o(Hons.)o5oyearsoIntegratedoCourseoaso finalizedo byo theo Committeeo constitutedo byo theo Vice-Chancelloro ino anticipationoofotheoapprovaloofotheoUniversityobodies/GovernmentoofoIndiao andoalsooapprovedotheofeeostructureoandonumberoofoseatsoforotheosaidoCourse,o includingo theo sponsoredo seats,o aso recommendedo byo theo Committeeo constitutedo byo theo Vice-Chancellor.o Theo saido recommendationso ofo theo Syndicateodatedo24.01.2004owereounanimouslyoapprovedobyotheoSenateoono

28.03.2004.o Theo theno Registraro ofo theo Universityo video lettero datedo

10.06.2006oaddressedotootheoSecretaryotootheoGovernmentoofoIndia,oMinistryo ofoHumanoResourcesoDevelopmento(DepartmentoofoEducation)orequestedothato sanctiono ofo theo Governmento foro theo Regulationso detailedo thereino mayo beo obtainedoandocommunicated.oTheoB.Com.oLL.B.o(Hons.)o5oyearsoIntegratedo CourseowasostartedoinotheoUILSofromotheoSessiono2011-2012.oTheoSyndicateo video itso decisiono datedo 04.11.2012o consideredo ando approvedo theo recommendationo ofo theo Facultyo ofo Lawo datedo 29.03.2012o thato theo Regulations/Rulesowhichoregulatedoadmissions,opromotionsoandomigrationotoo B.A.oLL.B.o(Hons.)o5oyearsoIntegratedoCourseobeomadeoapplicableotooB.Como LL.B.o(Hon.)o5oyearsoIntegratedoCourseostartedofromo2011-2012;otherefore,o theoadmissionoandopromotionotootheosaidocourseoisobeingogovernedobyotheo provisionsoofotheoRulesoregulatingoadmissionoandopromotionotooB.A./B.Como LL.B.o(Hons.)o5oyearsoIntegratedoCourseo(1-10oSemesters)oasoamendedoup-to-dateobyotheoUniversity.oItoisostatedothatoDepartmentoofoLaws;oUILS,oPanjabo University,o Chandigarh;o UILSo ato Hoshiarpur;o UILo ato Ludhianao ando Lawo DepartmentoatoMuktsaroSahib,oallobeingoapprovedodepartmentsoofolawoofotheo Universityo fallo undero theo definitiono ofo "Centreo ofo Legalo Education"o aso providedoinoclauseo(iv),oRuleo2,oPART-IV,oRulesoofoLegaloEducation-2008o whichoimpartsoinstructionoinoaocourseoofostudyoinolawoforoenrolmentoasoano advocate.oDegreeoinolawoawardedobyotheoPanjaboUniversityoisorecognizedoforo enrolmentoasoanoadvocateobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaounderotheosaidoRules.oo o ItoisosubmittedothatoallotheolawodepartmentsoofotheoUniversityo includingoUILSoandotheoRegionaloCentresoofotheoUniversityofallounderotheo definitionoofoclauseo(iv)oofoRuleo22oofotheoRulesoofoLegaloEducation-2008oi.e.o "CentreoofoLegaloEducation."oTheseoareonotoCollegesoofoLaw,oconstituento Collegeso undero theo recognizedo University.o Theo academico affairso ofo theo departmentoofoLawoandoUILSoofotheoUniversityoandolawodepartmentoofotheo RegionaloCentresoareobeingolookedoafterobyotheoFacultyoofoLawsoestablishedo byotheoUniversity.oTheo"FacultyoofoLaws"oconsistoofoDepartmentoofoLawoando UniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudiesoofotheoUniversity.oItosquarelyocoversotheo requirementoofoClauseo16oofotheosaidoSchedule-IIIoofo2008oRulesoforohavingo theoDeanoforoLawoDepartment.oDeano(Law)oforoallointentsoandopurposesoholdso Deanshipo ofo allo theo departmento ofo lawso ofo theo University.o Presently,o ProfessoroRajinderoKauroisotheoDeano(Law)oforoFacultyoofoLaw.oTheoUILSoiso notoanoautonomousoinstitutionoandoisoratheroanoapprovedodepartmentoofo lawoofotheoUniversity.oo

27.o o Respondentonos.7oando8ohaveoalsoofiledotheiroseparateowritteno statement,owhereinoalmostosimilarostandoasotakenobyorespondentoNo.6,ohaso beenotaken.oHowever,oinoparaoNo.10oofotheopreliminaryosubmissionsoofotheo writtenostatementoofiledoobyorespondentsooNo.7oando8,ootheofollowingostandohasoo beenotakeno:-o o "10.o Thato ito iso furthero statedo thato theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao haso framedo theo Ruleso knowno aso Ruleso ofo Legalo Studies,o 2008o copyo ofo whicho haso alreadyobeenoannexedobyotheopetitioneroasoAnnexureo P-2.o Scheduleo 3o ofo theo aboveo Ruleo relateso too Minimumo Infrastructuralo facilitieso requiredo ino ao centreoofoLegaloEducationoforoapplyingopermissionotoo runo Lawo courseo witho affiliationo fromo ano Indiano Universityo ando clauseo 16o provideso wholeo timeo Principal/Head/Dean.o Theo saido clauseo readso aso undero:o o "16.o WholeotimeoPrincipal/Head/Deano:oThereo shallobeoaoPrincipaloforoeachoconstituentooroaffiliatedo Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo ofo ao Universityo ando ao DeanoforotheoUniversityoDepartment,owhooshallohaveo minimumo prescribedo qualificationo ino lawo aso prescribedobyotheoUGCofororespectiveopositionolikeo Principalo ofo ao Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo oro ao ProfessoroofoLawotooholdodeanship,oasotheocaseomayo be."o o o FromotheoreadingoofotheoaboveoRule,oitoiso statedo thato ino theo University,o thereo iso ao Deano ofo DepartmentoofoLawsoandotheorequirementoofoRuleo16o thougho noto applicableo strictlyo iso meto witho theo appointmento ofo theo Deano ofo Lawo ando presentlyo FacultyoofoLawoinoitsomeetingoheldoono20.02.2023o electedo Prof.o Rajindero Kauro aso Dean,o Facultyo ofo LawoforotheotermofromoFebruaryo1,o2023otooJanuaryo 31,o2024o undero Regulationo6.3,o PanjaboUniversityo CalendaroVol.oI,o2022."o o o Ono theo basiso ofo theiro respectiveo submissions,o respondentsooooooooooooo No.6otoo8ohaveoalsooprayedoforodismissaloofowritopetition.o

28.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounselofororespectiveopartiesoandoperusedo theopaper-bookowithotheiroableoassistance.o

29.o o Fromo theo above-referredo submissions/stando ofo theo respectiveo parties,o ino myo consideredo view,o theo followingo issueso wouldo ariseo foroo considerationobyothisoCourt;onamely,oo i.k WhetheroUniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudieso(UILS)oofo Panjabo Universityo iso ao Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo ino termsoofoRuleo2(iv)oofoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008o?o ii.k Whethero theo Ruleso ofo Legalo Education,o 2008o areo applicableotooUILS?oo iii.k WhetheroUniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudieso(UILS)oofo Panjabo Universityo iso requiredo too haveo ao wholeo timeo Principal/Head,o ino termso ofo Ruleso ofo Legalo Education,o 2008,omoreospecificallyoRuleo16oreadowithoClauseo16oofo Scheduleo IIIo thereofo reado witho 2018o Regulationso ando RulesoofoHeadshipo?oo

30.o o Beforeodealingowithotheoafore-saidoissues,oitowouldobeoappositeo toostateohereothatotheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaoisoconstitutedounderoSectiono4oofo

the 1961 Act and is a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal. The functions assigned to the Bar Council of India are enumerated in Section 7 of the Act wherein Section 7(1)(h) of the 1961 Act, reads as follows:-"7. Functions of Bar Council of India:-(1) The functions of the Bar Council of India shall be -

(h) to promote legal education and to lay down standards of such education in consultation with the Universities in India imparting such education and the State Bar Councils."

31.

Further, Section 49 of the 1961 Act confers power on the Bar Council of India to make rules for discharging its function and Section 49(1)(d) reads as follows:-"49. General power of the Bar Council of India to make rules :-(1) The Bar Council of India may make rules for discharging its functions under this Act, and in particular, such rules may prescribe -

(d) the standards of legal education to be observed by Universities in India and the inspection of Universities for that purpose;"

It is abundantly clear therefore that the Bar Council of India can lay down standards of legal education to be observed by the Universities in India in consultation with the State Bar Councils.

32.

The Universities in the country have to observe the standards of legal education prescribed by the Bar Council of India has been held in Bar Council of India v. Aparna Basu Mallick [1994(2) S.C.T. 72 : 1994 (2)

SCC 102] as follows :- "14... Section 49(1)(d) empowers the Bar Council of India to make rules which may prescribe the standards of legal education to be observed by Universities in India and the inspection of Universities for that purpose. If the acquisition of a degree in law is essential for being qualified to be admitted as an advocate on a State roll, it is obvious that the Bar Council of India must have the authority to prescribe the standards of legal education to be observed by Universities in the country."

33.

The Bar Council of India retains adequate power to control the course of studies in law has been reiterated in Bar Council of India v. Dayanand College of Law and others [2007(1) S.C.T. 380 : (2007) 2 SCC 202] as follows :- "11... Thus, though the Bar Council of India may not have been entrusted with direct control of legal education in the sense in which the same is entrusted to a university, still, the Bar Council of India retains adequate power to control the course of studies in law, the power of inspection, the power of recognition of degrees and the power to deny enrolment to law degree-holders...."

34.

The Bar Council of India has framed the Rules of Legal Education, 2008. The events leading to the framing of the Rules of Legal Education, 2008 need to be referred to.

35.

The Legal Education Committee constituted by the Bar Council of India as per provisions of Section 10(2)(b) of the 1961 Act, in its meeting held on 28.06.2002 to 30.06.2002 constituted a Sub-Committee to suggest

actions to be taken to improve the quality of legal education and especially the re-drafting of the Rules relating to the Standards of Legal Education. Thereafter, in its meeting held on 07.11.2003, the revision of the Bar Council of India Rules in Part IV was proposed by referring the matter to the Rule making Committee. On 04.05.2007, the Legal Education Committee after finalizing the draft Rules, invited the comments of all the Universities and State Bar Councils. In its subsequent meeting held on 01.02.2008, the Legal Education Committee referred to the comments and suggestions received from about 38 Universities/Law Colleges and three State Bar Councils. The Bar Council of India in its meeting held on 12.09.2008 and

14.09.2008 passed resolution no.110 of 2008 accepting the Rules as revised by its Legal Education Committee. The said revised Rules were thereafter implemented from the academic year 2009-10.

36.

The aforesaid indicates the various steps undertaken by the Bar Council of India before it resolved to bring into force the 2008, Rules. It cannot be ignored that the exercise of framing the Rules of 2008 was preceded by a detailed exercise being undertaken by a body of experts which was the Legal Education Committee.

37.

It would be apposite to refer to certain relevant provisions of the 2008 Rules. Rule 1(c) prescribes that the 2008 Rules would replace all previous rules, directives, notifications and resolutions relating to the matters covered under the 2008 Rules.

Rule 2(iv) indicates "Centres of Legal Education" to mean approved colleges of law, departments of law of Universities and affiliated colleges or schools of law of recognized Universities so approved.

Chapter II of the 2008 Rules lays down the Standards of Professional Legal Education. Rule 3 refers to recognized Universities which include approved affiliated Centres of Legal Education. A State Bar Council is required to ensure that the applicants passing out from such recognized Universities and approved affiliated law Centre of legal education are enrolled. Rule 8 prescribes the standard of law courses while Rule 11 prescribes minimum standard infrastructure to be stipulated by the Bar Council of India.

Chapter III of the 2008 Rules lays down steps for inspection, recognition and accreditation. Under Rule 14 no Centre of legal education is permitted to admit any student and impart instructions in a course of study of law unless the same has been approved by the Bar Council of India after inspection of the University or Centres of Legal Education concerned. Rule 19 prescribes types of inspection by the Inspection Committee of the Bar Council of India. Rule 26 refers to approval granted by the Bar Council of India on the recommendation of the Legal Education Committee. Such approval may either be temporary approval for a period of not more than three years to a newly proposed institution or regular approval for a period not more than five years when the institution fulfills all standard norms.

Chapter VI of the 2008 Rules makes various miscellaneous provisions. Rule 42 requires all approved Centres of Legal Education of the Universities whose degrees are approved for enrolment to submit to the respective University with a copy to the Bar Council of India an annual return in the prescribed form. Under Rule 44 the Bar Council of India is required to notify on its website the names of Universities whose degrees in

law are recognized alongwith list of approved Centres of Legal Education. Rule 45 giving over-riding effect to the Rules of 2008 reads thus:- "45. Over-riding effect. Any resolution passed earlier by Bar Council of India / Legal Education Committee inconsistent with these rules shall not bind the Bar Council of India and all other bodies constituted in pursuance of the Advocates Act, 1961, after these rules come into force."

Rule 46 which is the Savings provision reads thus:- "46. Savings. Any action, decision or direction taken or directed by the Bar Council of India under any Rule or Regulation in force at any time earlier than these Rules coming into force, shall be valid, binding on the institutions as the case may be and remain in enforce notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules."

38.

On a complete reading of the 1961 Act and especially the provisions of Sections 7, 24 with Section 49 of the Act of 1961, it becomes clear that it is the function of the Bar Council of India under Section 7(1)(h) of the 1961 Act, to promote legal education and lay down standards of such education in consultation with Universities in India imparting such education as well as the State Bar Councils. It is also its function to recognize Universities whose degree in law is a qualification for enrolment as an Advocate. The Bar Council of India is also required to inspect Universities for that purpose or cause the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities in that regard. It is also apparent that a person who seeks to be admitted as an Advocate on a State roll is required to fulfill various conditions including obtaining a degree in Law which is recognized by the Bar Council of India for the purposes of the 1961 Act.

¶39Coming to the case in hand, as far as issue no (i) is concerned i.e whether University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) of Panjab University is a "Centre of Legal Education" in terms of Rule 2(iv) of Rules of Legal Education, 2008; at the cost of repetition, it would be gainful to refer to Rule 2(iv) of 2008 Rules, which reads as under:- "2(iv)o CentresoofoLegalo du!ation"omeanso 4a5o ,llo approvedo Departmentso o o 6a$o o o &niversities"o Collegeso o o 6a$"o Constituento Collegeso undero recogni7edo &niversitieso ando a iliatedo Collegeso oro Schoolsoo ola$oo orecogni7edo&niversitieso sooapproved'o o o o #rovidedothatoaoDepartmentooroCollegeo oro(nstitutionoconductingocorrespondenceo coursesothroughodistanceoeducationoshallo notobeoincluded'o 4b5o 8ationalo 6a$o &niversitieso constitutedo andoestablishedobyostatutesoo otheo&niono oroStatesoandomandatedotoostartoandoruno 6a$ocourses'2o o Petitioner claims that University Institute of Legal Studies

(UILS) of Panjab University is a "Centre of Legal Education", whereas the stand of respondent-University as well as respondents no. 6 to 8 is that University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) of Panjab University is an "approved Department of law". Even going by the stand taken by the respondents herein that University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) of Panjab University is an "approved Department of law", there is hardly any dispute left as "all approved Departments of Law" of University would fall withinotheoscopeoandoambitoofoRuleo2o(iv)oofo2008oRules.oTherefore,oitoisoheldo thatoUniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudieso(UILS)oofoPanjaboUniversityoisoao "CentreoofoLegaloEducation"oinotermsoofoRuleo2o(iv)oofo2008oRules.o

40.o o Comingotooissueo(ii)oasotoowhetherotheoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o 2008oareoapplicableotooUILSo(respondentoNo.o4);otheostandoofopetitioneroiso thatoUniversityoInstituteoofoLegaloStudieso(UILS)oofoPanjaboUniversityoisoao Centreoofolegaloeducation,othereforeo2008oRulesoareofullyoapplicableotootheo same.oo o o Pero contra,o theo stando ofo respondento No.1-Universityo ando respondentoNo.4-InstituteoisothatoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofotheo2008oRuleso appliesotootwooInstitutionsodistinctlyoviz.,othereoshallobeoao"PRINCIPAL"oforo eachoconstituentooroaffiliatedoCentreoofolegaloEducationoi.e.oConstituentooro affiliatedoCollegeoandoaoDeanoforotheo"Universityodepartment",owhooshallo haveominimumoprescribedoqualificationoinolawoasoprescribedobyotheoUGCoforo respectiveo positiono likeo Principalo ofo ao Centreo ofo Legalo Educationo oro ao Professoro ofo Lawo too holdo Deanship,o aso theo caseo mayo be.o Therefore,o theo provisionsoofoRuleo16oofotheoRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008oandoClauseo16o ofoScheduleoIIIothereofotootheoextentothatothereoshallobeoaoPrincipaloforoeacho ConstituentooroaffiliatedoCentreoofoLegaloEducationoofoaoUniversityoareonoto applicableotootheofactsoofotheoinstantocase.oItoisocontendedothatotheoprovisionso ofo Clauseo 16o too theo effecto thato thereo shallo beo ao Deano foro theo Universityo Departmento areo applicableo too theo caseo ino hand,o howevero noneo ofo theo provisionsoofoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofoRulesoofoLegaloEducation-2008o applyoforotheopostoofoDirectoroofoUILS.o o o Respondentso No.o 6o too 8o haveo alsoo takeno ao similaro standooooooooooooooooo thatooRulesoofoLegaloEducation,o2008oareonotostrictlyoapplicableotoorespondentoo No.4-Institute.o o o Onotheootherohand,otheoBaroCounciloofoIndiaohasotakenoaostando thato undero Scheduleo IIIo ofo theo 2008o Rules,o theo minimumo infrastructuralo facilities,owhichoareorequiredofororunningotheoCentreoofoLegaloEducationosucho asotheorespondent-Institute,ohaveobeenolaidodownobyotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.o Undero theo provisionso foro academico infrastructure,o Clauseo 16o specificallyo providesothatoanoinstitute/centeroofolegaloeducationoinoaoUniversityoisorequiredo botho ao wholeo timeo Principal/Head/Dean,o whicho shallo haveo theo minimumo prescribedoqualificationsoinolawoasoprescribedobyotheoUGCowithorespectotoo postsoinoquestion.o o o Iohaveoconsideredotheoaforesaidostandoofotheorespectiveoparties;o however,oIodoonotofindoanyoforceoinotheosameostandotakenobyorespondentso No.1o too 4o ando respondentso No.6o too 8.o Ino myo consideredo view,o theo applicabilityo ofo 2008o Ruleso upono Universityo Instituteo ofo Legalo Studieso

(UILS)oofoPanjaboUniversityobeingoao"CentreoofoLegaloEducation"oisonotoaso perotheochoiceoando/ooroonotheobasisoofoselfoservingointerpretationoofo2008o RulesobyorespondentsoNo.o1otoo4oandoforothatomatterobyorespondentsoNo.o6otoo 8oandothatotoooselectively.oTheoBaroCounciloofoIndia,obeingotheoGoverningo body,o ino caseso ofo institutionso impartingo Legalo Educationo ino India,o haso framed/promulgatedo2008oRulesowhichowasoprecededobyoaodetailedoexerciseo undertakenobyobodyoofoexperts.oTheo2008oRulesohaveobeenogoverningotheo fieldoeverosinceoitsoenforcementoandoitohasoalreadyobeenopointedooutoinotheo foregoingoparasothatotheoGazetteoRuleso(2008oRules)owereocirculatedobyotheo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao too theo Universitieso beforeo theyo wereo finallyo implementedo fromo theo Academico Yearo 2009-2010.o Concededly,o theo Universityo Instituteo ofo Legalo Studieso (UILS)o waso establishedo ino theo yearo 2004 and the 2008 Rules were enforced subsequently i.e. from the Academic Year 2009-2010. Therefore, Panjab University as well as respondent No.4-Institute were very well aware of their faculty set-up and also the courses undertaken at UILS. Had there been any objection to the provisions contained in 2008 Rules, more specifically the provisions providing for a whole time Principal/Head of a Centre of Legal Education, then objection could have been raised. There is no dispute that Rule 45 of 2008 Rules gives an overriding effect to them. Neither respondents No.1 to 4 nor respondents No.6 to 8 had referred to any material to suggest that any challenge has been made to the said 2008 Rules. In such eventuality, when 2008 Rules operates in the field then the same have to be given effect with full force and would fully apply on respondent No.4-Institute, which undeniably has affiliation from respondent No.5-Bar Council of India.o Furthermore, within the framework of 2008 Rules, more specifically Rule 11 read with Schedule III of 2008 Rules, the res$ondento %o.1"(ni)ersit*oandores$ondento%o.0"Institute,oinoorderotooseekoe tensionoofo re'ognition/a$$ro)a,o fro1o 8aro Coun'i,o ofo Indiao (res$ondento %o.5#o hado su/1ittedoanoaffida)itodatedo13.03.2020(Anne ureo!"15#otootheo8aroCoun'i,o ofoIndia,os$e'ifi'a,,*ostatingoasounder>"o /'oTheo (nstitutiono haso beeno giveno e+tensiono o o approvalo o o a iliationo $'e' 'o ,cademico Sessiono .1/H-/Co tillo theo academico sessiono .1/I-.1o 4 oro threeoyears5'o .'oTheo (nstitutiono ul ilso allo a iliationo conditionso underotheo, iliationo-ulesoo otheo&niversity>o G'oTheo (nstitutiono iso ao constituento departmento o o #an%abo&niversity"oChandigarho$hichoisostatutoryo bodyoundero#an%abo&niversityo,ct"o/I?H'o

4.oTheoInstitutionohasotheoCapitaloFundoasoonodateo amountingotooRupeeso8oCroresoapproximately.o

5.oTheoInstitutionohasoalreadyoappointedoaoqualifiedo HeadoofotheoInstitution.o

6.oTheoInstitutionopossessesophysicaloinfrastructureo underofreeholdotootheominimumorequiredostandardo ofotheoEducationoRulesoofotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.o

7.oTheoInstitutionoappointed/initiatedotheoprocesseso ofoappointmentooforequiredonumberoofofacultyoando otheroadministrativeostaffoandotheorequiredonumbero satisfyo theo minimumo requiremento aso pero theo prescriptionoofotheoBaroCounciloofoIndia.o

8.oTheo Institutiono fulfilso allo requirementso foro affiliationoofotheoUniversityoandoalsooalloconditionso foroapprovaloofotheoaffiliation.o

9.oItoisodeclaredoandoassertedothatotheoInstitutiono fulfilsoallonecessaryoconditions/promisesotoomeetoupo deficiencies,o ifo indicatedo ando wouldo beo readyo too continueo course/courseso fromo theo Academico yearo 2020-21.o

10.o Theo Institutiono iso managed,o monitoredo andorunobyoPanjaboUniversityoasoperotheoPanjabo UniversityoNormsoandonormsoofotheoBaroCounciloofo India.o

11.o TheoInstitutionoundertakesotooscrupulouslyo adhereotootheostandardoofotheolegaloeducationoaso prescribedounderotheoEducationoRulesoofotheoBaro Councilo ofo Indiao ando aso mayo beo prescribedo oro amendedofromotimeotootimeo o o Aobareoperusaloofotheocontentsoofotheoaboveoextractedoaffidavito datedo13.03.2020o(AnnexureoP-15)osubmittedobyorespondentoNo.1-Universityo ando respondento No.4-Instituteo too theo Baro Councilo ofo India,o invariablyo indicateso thato theo Universityo Instituteo ofo Legalo Studieso (UILS)o ofo Panjabo GURPREET KAUR Universityohasoclearlyoadmittedotheoapplicabilityoofo2008oRulesoandohaveo rather undertaken to scrupulously adhere to the standard of the legal education as prescribed under the Education Rules (i.e. 2008 Rules) of the Bar Council of India and as may be prescribed or amended from time to time. Such affirmation by res$ondento%o.1"(ni)ersit*oandores$ondento%o.0" Instituteoisonotoon,*oforoseekingoaffi,iationo/oa$$ro)a,ofro1o8aroCoun'i,oofo Indiao /uto a,soo towardso futureo 'o1$,ian'e(s#o witho theo $ro)isionso ofo 2004o 2u,es,o1oresoowhenotheoaffi,iationo/oa$$ro)a,ofro1o8aroCoun'i,oofoIndiaoiso foros$e'ifiedo$eriodoandoisorequiredotoo/eoo/tainedoregu,ar,*.o<oreo)er,otheo saidoaffir1ationoandoundertakingogi)eno/*ores$ondento%o.1"(ni)ersit*oando res$ondento%o.0"Instituteonotoon,*o/indsothe1o/utoa,sootheofa'u,t*o1e1/ers,o staffoet'.o6herefore,okee$ingoino)iewotheostandoofo8aroCoun'i,oofoIndiaoando theoo/ser)ationso1adeohere"in"a/o)e,othereoisonoo1anneroofodou/tothatoRules of Legal Education, 2008 are fully applicable to University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS).

01.o o Now coming to issue no. (iii) as to whether University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) of Panjab University is required to have a whole time Principal/Head, in terms of Rules of Legal Education, 2008, more specifically Rule 16 read with Clause 16 of Schedule III thereof read with 2018 Regulations and Rules of Headship; it is the stand of the petitioner that in terms of above-referred provisions; Head of the respondent No.4-Institute (i.e. the Director), can only be appointed from amongst the faculty members, who fulfill the minimum prescribed qualification in the field of Law. Reliance is placed upon the de'isionoofotheo5on:/,eo-u$re1eoCourtoofoIndiao ino@.aroCoun!iloofo/ndiao9ersuso.oardoofo5anage&ent>o2a'anandoCollegeo ofoLa*8o2000(2)o:CCo202. o o Onotheootherohand,otheostandooforespondentoNo.1-Universityoando respondento No.4-Instituteo iso thato thereo iso noo sanctionedo regularo posto ofo Directoro ino theo Departmento (UILS)o ando theo designationo assignedo too theo appointeeoisoonlyohonorary.oItoisostatedothatotheoprovisionsoofoClauseo16oofo ScheduleoIIIoofo2008oRulesotootheoeffectothatothereoshallobeoaoDeanoforotheo UniversityoDepartmentoareoapplicableotootheocaseoinohand,ohowever,ononeoofo theoprovisionsoofoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofoRulesoofoLegaloEducation-2008o applyo foro theo posto ofo Directoro ofo UILS.o Ito iso alsoo theo stando ofo respondentso no.o 1o too 4o ando respondentso no.o 6o too 8o thato UILSo impartso B.A./B.Com.oLL.Bo(Hons.)ofiveoyearsointegratedoCourseoandotheoUniversityo offerso totalo subjectso ino liberalo disciplineo ino integratedo streamo aso pero theo schemeolaidounderotheoprovisionsoofoRuleo3oando6,oScheduleoIIoofotheoRules-2008.oItoisostatedothatotheofacultyoofoUILSoconsistsoofoProfessors/Associateo Professors/Assistanto Professorso ino Lawo ando Socialo Scienceso i.e.o Politicalo Science,oEconomics,oSociology,oEnglish,oHistoryoetc.oandoallotheoteachersoareo toobeoappointedoasoperotheoprovisionsoofoUGCoRegulationsoissuedofromotimeo tootimeoandoadoptedobyotheoUniversity.oItoisofurtherostatedothatothereoisooneo commonolistoforotheoteachersoimpartingoinstructionsoinolawosubjectsoandoothero socialo scienceo subjectso ono theo basiso ofo theiro dateo ofo joiningo (directo recruitmentoandopromotion),otherefore,oeachoandoeveryoteacheroofoUILSoiso entitledotoobeoappointedoasoDirectoroofoUILSobyorotationoasoperotheoprovisionso ofo Chaptero LII,o Vol.o III,o P.U.o Calendaro 2019,o Pageo 714o pertainingo too `RotationoofoHeadship-TeachingoDepartments.'oItoisocontendedothatononeoofo theoteachersoisotoobeodeniedoequalityobeforeolawoandotheyoareoentitledotooequalo protectionoofotheolawsoandoequaloopportunityotoobeoappointedoasoDirectoroofo UILS,oirrespectiveoofotheofactothatohe/sheoimpartsoinstructionoinolawosubjectso andootherosocialoscienceosubjects.oItoisofurtherocontendedothatotheodecisionoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoino?BaroCounciloofoIndiaoVersusoBoardo ofo Management,o Dayanando Collegeo ofo Law'o 2007(2)o SCCo 202;o iso noto applicableotootheoinstantocase.o o o Io haveo consideredo theo afore-statedo rivalo contentionso ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveoalsoogoneothroughotheodecisionoofotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheocaseoofooDayanandoCollegeoofoLawo(supra).oIno myo consideredo view,o theo judgmento renderedo ino theo caseo ofo Dayanando Collegeo ofo Lawo (supra)o haso clearedo theo airo aso faro aso fulfillmento ofo requirementso /o eligibilityo laido downo undero theo Ruleso ofo Legalo Educationo framedobyoBaroCounciloofoIndiaoisoconcernedoasoitowasoheldothereinothatotheo Ruleso framedo byo theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao wouldo prevailo viz-a-vizo theo regulationo ofo theo University.o Hon'bleo theo Apexo Courto ino theo caseo ofo DayanandoCollegeoofoLawo(supra)ohasoheldoasounder:o-o

7.o Theo Baro Councilo ofo Indiao iso constitutedo undero Sectiono 4o ofo theo Advocateso Act.o Ito consistsoofotheoAttorneyoGeneraloofoIndia,otheo Solicitoro Generalo ofo India,o botho ino theiro exo officioocapacitiesoandooneomemberoelectedobyo eacho Stateo Baro Councilo fromo amongsto itso members.oItoisoaobodyocorporate.oTheofunctionso assignedotooitoareoenumeratedoinoSectiono7oofo theo Act.o Theo functionso relevanto foro ouro purposeoareocontainedoinoSectiono7(1)(h)oando Sectiono7(1)(i).oTheyoreado:o "7(1)(h)otoopromoteolegaloeducationoandotoolayo downo standardso ofo sucho educationo ino consultationo witho theo Universitieso ino Indiao impartingo sucho educationo ando theo Stateo Baro Councils;"o

7(1)(i) to recognise Universities whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate and for that purpose to visit and inspect Universities or cause the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities in accordance with such directions as it may give in this behalf;" The duty of admission and enrolment of Advocates is entrusted to the State Bar Council except in the case of Supreme Court advocates which is with the Bar Council of India. After 12.3.1967, a person may be admitted as an advocate on a State roll only if he has obtained a degree in law from a University recognised by the Bar Council of India. Section 24, to the extent it is relevant here, reads : "24. Persons who may be admitted as advocates on a State roll. -(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, and the rules made thereunder, a person shall be qualified to be admitted as an advocate on a State roll, if he fulfills the following conditions, namely :-

(a) .......................

(b) .......................

(c) he has obtained a degree in law -

(i) before the 12th day of March, 1967 from any University in the territory of India; or

(ii) before the 15th of August, 1947, from any University in any area which was comprised before that date within India as defined by the Government of India Act, 1935; or

(iii) after the 12th day of March, 1967, save as provided in sub-clause (iiia) after undergoing a three years course of study in law from any

University in India which is recognised for the purposes of this Act by the Bar Council of India; or

(iiia) after undergoing a course of study in law, the duration of which is not less than two academic years commencing from the academic year 1967-68 or any earlier academic year from any University in India which is recognised for the purposes of this Act by the Bar Council of India; or

(iv) in any other case, from any University outside the territory of India, if the degree is recognised for the purposes of this Act by the Bar Council of India] or; he is a barrister and is called to the Bar on or before the 31st day of December, 1976 or has passed the articled clerks" examination or any other examination specified by the High Court at Bombay or Calcutta for enrolment as an attorney of that High Court; or has obtained such other foreign qualification in law as is recognised by the Bar Council of India for the purpose of admission as an advocate under this Act;" Section 49 confers the power to make rules for discharging the functions of the Bar Council of India. Relevant topics for our purposes are set down hereunder : "49(1)(af) the minimum qualifications required for admission to a course of degree in law in any recognised University;" and "49(1)(d). the standards of legal education to be observed by Universities in India and the inspection of Universities for that purpose;"

¶8The Bar Council of India Rules are framed by the Bar Council of India in exercise of its rule making power. Part IV thereof deals with legal education, the duration of it, the syllabi etc. Section A deals with five-year law course and Section B deals with three-year law course. Under Section A Rule 2, a degree in law obtained from a University shall not be recognised for the purpose of enrolment as an advocate under the Advocates Act unless the conditions laid down therein are fulfilled. Only then a student coming out of that University could get enrolled as an advocate. Provision has also been made regarding teachers of law. Rule 12 reads : "12. Full-time teachers of law including the Principal of the College shall ordinarily be holders of a Master's degree in law and where the holders of Master's degree in law are not available, persons with teaching experience for a minimum period of 10 years in law may be considered. Part-time teachers other then one with LL.M. degree shall have a minimum practice of five years at the Bar."

¶9Rule 17(1) stipulates that no college after the coming into force of the Rules shall impart instruction in a course of study in law for enrolment as an advocate unless its affiliation has been approved by the Bar Council of India. Thus, though the Bar Council of India may not have been entrusted with direct control of legal education in the sense in which the same is entrusted to a University,

still, the Bar Council of India retains adequate power to control the course of studies in law, the power of inspection, the power of recognition of degrees and the power to deny enrolment to law degree holders, unless the University from which they pass out is recognised by the Bar Council of India.

¶10The first task of a court confronted with a set of parallel provisions relating to the appointment of a principal of a law college like the one in the amended provision of the Statute under the University Act and the Rules made by the Bar Council of India which could ultimately refuse to admit a graduate of law coming out of the University to enrolment as an advocate, which alone would entitle him to practice, is to see whether the provisions could not be reconciled or harmoniously construed so as to achieve the object of both the enactments. Prior to 13.1.1995, there was no conflict between Statute 11.14 and Rule 12 of the Rules of the Bar Council. In 1995, in the University Statutes, the requirement of the Principal having to be the holder of a doctorate in one of the subjects taught in the College, was done away with. Obviously, such a provision could not be understood as controlling fully professional education like that in Medicine, Engineering or Law. No doubt, the University has not made a distinction in that regard in this context. But obviously, it does not appeal to common sense to say that an engineer could be appointed the Principal of a Medical College or a Great Physician could be appointed as the Principal

of an Engineering College. Same is the position regarding the appointment of a doctorate in Science or a doctorate in Philosophy as the Principal of a law college.

¶11The aim of most of the students who enter the law college, is to get enrolled as Advocates and practice law in the country. To do that, they have necessarily to have a degree from a University that is recognised by the Bar Council of India. Therefore, the court, in a situation like the present one, has to ask itself whether it could not harmoniously construe the relevant provisions and reach a conclusion consistent with the main aim of seeking or imparting legal education. So approached, nothing stands in the way of the court coming to the conclusion that though under the relevant Statute of the University as amended, theoretically, it may be possible to appoint a Doctor of Philosophy or a Doctor of Science as the Principal of a Law College, taking into account the requirements of the Advocates Act, the Rules of the Bar Council of India and the main purpose of legal education, the Court would be justified in holding that as regards the post of the Principal of a Law College, it would be necessary for the proposed incumbent also to satisfy the requirements of the Rules of the Bar Council of India. Such a harmonious understanding of the position recognising the realities of the situation, would justify the conclusion that a Doctorate holder in any of the law subjects could alone be appointed as

Court, in our view, made an error in not trying to reconcile the relevant provisions and in not making an attempt to harmoniously construe the relevant provisions so as to give efficacy to all of them. A harmonious understanding could lead to the position that the Principal of a Law College has to be appointed after a process of selection by the body constituted in that behalf, under the University Act, but while nominating from the list prepared, and while appointing him, it must be borne in mind that he should fulfill the requirements of the Rules of the Bar Council of India framed under the Advocates Act and it be ensured that he holds a Doctorate in any one of the branches of law taught in the law college. We do not see anything in the University Act or the Statutes framed thereunder, which stands in the way of the adopting of such a course. Therefore, when a request is made for selection of a Principal of a law college, the University and the Selection Committee has to ensure that applications are invited from those who are qualified to be principals of a law college in terms of the Rules of the Bar Council and from the list prepared, a person possessing the requisite qualification, is nominated and appointed as the Principal of a law college.

¶12It is clear from the decision of the Constitution Bench in O.N. Mohindroo v. The Bar Council of Delhi &Ors. (supra) that in pith and substance, the Advocates Act falls under Entries 77 and 78 of List I of the Seventh Schedule. That apart, it is not

necessary to postulate a conflict of legislation in this case as we have indicated earlier. It is true that under the University Act, the selection of a Principal of a College affiliated to the concerned University has been left to a Higher Education Services Commission and respondent No. 5 was included in the panel of selected candidates pursuant to a due selection by that Commission. It is also true that theoretically the State Government on the recommendation of the Director of Higher Education could appoint any one from that list as Principal of any College including a Law College. But when concerned with the appointment of a Principal of the Law College, there cannot be any difficulty either in the Recommending Authority or in the State Government recognising the fact that a person duly qualified in law is required to be the Principal of that Law College in the interests of the students coming out of that College in the light of the Advocates Act, 1961 and the rules framed by the Bar Council of India governing enrolment of Advocates and their practice. It must be the endeavour of the State and the Recommending Authority to ensure that the students coming out of the College are not put to any difficulty and to ensure that their career as professionals is in no way jeopardised by the action of the Government in appointing a Principal to a Law College. Therefore, even while adhering to its process of selection of a Principal, it behoves the State to ensure that the appointment it makes is also

rules framed by the Bar Council of India. It may not be correct to say that the Bar Council of India is totally unconcerned with the legal education, though primarily legal education may also be within the province of Universities. But, as the apex professional body, the Bar Council of India is concerned with the standards of the legal profession and the equipment of those who seek entry into that profession. The Bar Council of India is also thus concerned with the legal education in the country. Therefore, instead of taking a pedantic view of the situation, the State Government and the Recommending Authority are expected to ensure that the requirement set down by the Bar Council of India is also complied with. We are of the view that the High Court was not correct in its approach in postulating a conflict between the two laws and in resolving it based on Article 254(2) of the Constitution. Of course, the question whether the assent to the Act would also extend to the statute framed under it and that too to an amendment made subsequent to the assent are questions that do not call for an answer in this case in the light of the view we have adopted.

¶13According to us therefore, notwithstanding the procedure to be followed under the University Act and Statute 11.14 as amended, it is necessary for the Recommending Authority and the State Government when concerned with the appointment of a Principal of a Law College, Advocates Act and the rules of the Bar Council of India. This would ensure a harmonious working of the Universities and the Bar Council of India in respect of legal education and the avoidance of any problems for the students coming out of the Institution wanting to pursue the legal profession. We therefore hold that the State Government and the Recommending Authority were not justified in recommending and appointing respondent No. 5 as the Principal of the Dayanand Law College. XXX XXX XXX

¶16We find that consistent with the Advocates Act and the rules of the Bar Council of India, respondent No. 5 could not have been appointed as the Principal of a Law College, however, eminent he might be as a philosopher, friend and guide to the students and his competence to teach Ethics could be recognized. A perusal of the afore-said judgment would manifest that notwithstanding the procedure to be followed under the University Act, the adherence to the requirements of the Advocates Act and the rules of the Bar Council of India is also to be ensured when concerned with the appointment of a Principal of a Law College.

¶42In the instant case, I have considered the stand of respondents No. 1 to 4 and more specifically the stand of respondents No. 6 to 8 that thereo iso oneo 'o11ono ,isto foro theo tea'herso i1$artingo instru'tionso ino ,awo su/.e'tsoandootheroso'ia,os'ien'eosu/.e'tsoonotheo/asisoofotheirodateoofo.oiningo (dire'to re'ruit1ento ando $ro1otion#,o therefore,o ea'ho ando e)er*o tea'hero ofo GURPREET KAUR (I+-oisoentit,edotoo/eoa$$ointedoaso&ire'toroofo(I+-o/*orotationoaso$erotheo $ro)isionso ofo Chaptero L//>o 9ol.o ///>o +.).o Calendaro 201B>o +ageo 01=o $ertainingotoo9RotationoofoHeadshipA%ea!hingo2epart&ents:oandononeoofo theotea'hersoisotoo/eodeniedoequa,it*o/eforeo,aw;othusothe*oareoentit,edotoo/eo a$$ointedoaso&ire'toroofo(I+-oirres$e'ti)eoofotheofa'tothatohe/sheoi1$artso instru'tionoino,awosu/.e'tsoandootheroso'ia,os'ien'eosu/.e'ts.o o o 3)enothoughoatofirsto/,ush,otheoaforesaidoargu1entosee1sotoo/eo attra'ti)eo/utoitodoesonotodetainothisoCourtoforotooo,ongotoo/rushoasideotheo sa1eoasothe issue involved in the present case is not to test the impugned action based on the principles of service jurisprudence but to test the impugned action towards the compliance of the norms of affiliation from the Bar Council of India, being the governing body. Keeping in view the observations made by Hon'ble Supreme Court in theo 'aseo ofo 2a'anando Collegeo ofo La*o (supra) and upon harmonious construction of the provisions contained in 2008 Rules read with the 2018 Regulations and also the Rules of Headship, it is observed that $ro)isionso$ertainingotoo9RotationoofoHeadshipA%ea!hingo2epart&ents:oare applicable to all departments of Panjab University, however as regards its applicability in respect of UILS, it would be necessary for the proposed incumbent also to satisfy the requirements of the 2008 Rules framed by the Bar Council of India read with 2018 UGC Regulations. Therefore, when concerned with the appointment of a Principal / Head of a Centre of Legal Education, there cannot be any difficulty either with the Panjab University or with the respondent No. 4 – Institute recognizing the fact that a person duly qualified in law is required to be the Principal / Head of a Centre of Legal Education in the interests of the students coming out of such Centre in the light of the provisions of the Advocates' Act, 1961 and the rules framed by the Bar Council of India governing enrolment of Advocates and their practice, so that the students coming out from their Centre of Legal Education are not put to any difficulty and their career as professionals is in no way jeopardized by their actions in appointing a Principal / Head, who does not hold the requisite eligibility / qualification in terms of 2008 Rules read with 2018 Regulations. Therefore, Panjab University and respondent No.4–Institute (UILS) are expected to comply with the requirement set down by the Bar Council of India in 2008 Rules and 2018 Regulations as regards appointment of Principal/Head of a Centre of Legal Education, is concerned. Non-compliance with the Rules of Legal Education, 2008, shall result into infringement of the norms of affiliation. The res$ondento%o.1"

(ni)ersit*o ando res$ondento %o.0"Institute,o ino ordero too seeko e tensiono ofo re'ognition/a$$ro)a,o fro1o 8aro Coun'i,o ofo Indiao (res$ondento %o.5#o hado su/1ittedoanoaffida)itodatedo13.03.2020(Anne ureo!"15#otootheo8aroCoun'i,o ofo India,o whereino ito haso /eeno 'ategori'a,,*o statedothato theo Institutiono haso a,read*oa$$ointedoaoqua,ifiedo5eadoofotheoInstitution.o6hus,oon'eoao'ategori'o de',arationo waso gi)eno /*o theo res$ondento %o.1"(ni)ersit*o aso we,,o aso res$ondento%o.0"Institute,othenoitodoesonoto,ieoinotheiro1outhotooturnoaroundo andosa*othatoRule 16 read with Clause 16 of Schedule III of 2008 Rules is not applicable to the instant case or that the said provision is applicable only in respect of Dean and not in respect of Principal or Head (Director in the instant case) of UILS.

¶43I also do not find any substance in the submission/stand of respondents No.1 to 4 that the Director of respondent No.4-Institute is only an honorary designation; especially in the light of Rule 2.7 of the Rules of Headship,owhichoprovidesothatotheoHeadoofotheoDepartmentohasotheofollowingo powersoandofunctions,owhichoreadsoasoundero:-o "2.7oTheoChairpersono/oHeadoofoaodepartmentoshallohaveo theofollowingopowersoandofunctions:o-o

(i)k Too provideo academico leadershipo too theo Department;o

(ii)k Too superviseo theo overallo functioningo ofo theo Departmento;o

(iii)k Too co-ordinateoandoguideo theo teaching,oresearcho andoadministrativeoworkoofotheoDepartment;o

(iv)k Too implemento theo decisionso ofo theo Committeeso specifiedoinoRuleo3.1;o

(v)k Tooexerciseofinancialopowersoinopursuanceoofotheo recommendationso ofo theo Committeeso specifiedo ino Ruleo3.1osubjectotoosuchorulesoasomayobeoprescribedo inothisoregardofromotimeotootime;o

(vi)k ToorecommendotootheoJointoResearchoBoard,opanelo ofo examinerso foro evaluatingo Ph.D.o thesiso ino consultationowithosupervisor/soando

(vii)k Too performo sucho othero functionso aso mayo beo assignedo too himo byo theo Syndicateo ando theo Vice-Chancelloroforospecificopurposes."o o o o o AobareoperusaloofotheoaboveoextractedoRuleo2.7oofotheoRulesoofo Headship,o wouldo clearlyo indicateo thato theo Directoro ofo respondento No.4-Institute,obeingotheoHeadoofotheoInstitute,oisonotoaomereohonoraryodesignationo aso he/sheo iso requiredo too performo variouso functionso ando too exerciseo sucho powerso whicho ino itso veryo natureo areo aimedo towardso providingo academico leadershipo too theo Department,o too co-ordinateo teaching,o researcho ando administrativeoworkoofotheodepartment,otooexerciseofinancialopowersoetc.oo

44.o o Consideringotheototalityoofocircumstances,oinotheoinstantocase,o theoPrincipal/HeadooforespondentoNo.4-Instituteo(referredotooaso`Director')o hasotoobeoaoperson,owhoohasominimumoprescribedoqualificationoinoLawoaso prescribedobyotheoUGC,oasoenvisagedoundero2008oRules,omoreospecificallyo Ruleo16(iv)oreadowithoClauseo16oofoScheduleoIIIoofo2008oRules.oConcededly,o suchoqualificationoisonotothereowithorespondentoNo.6oandoforothatomatteroalsoo withorespondentsoNo.7oando8.o

45.oooooooooooooConsequently,otheoimpugnedoorderodatedo31.05.2023o(Annexureo P-13)o appointingo respondento No.6o aso Directoro ofo Universityo Instituteo ofo LegaloStudies,oPanjaboUniversityo(respondentoNo.4)oisounsustainableoinotheo eyesoofolawoandotheosameoisoaccordinglyosetoaside.oAccordingly,otheopresento petitionoisopartlyoallowedotootheoaboveoextent,owithoaofurtherodirectionotoo respondentsoNo.1otoo4otooinitiateoandocompleteotheoprocessoofoappointingotheo Director/Headoofo respondento No.4-Institute,oino complianceo witho normso ofo affiliation,okeepingoinoviewotheoobservationsomadeohere-in-above,owithinoao periodoofosixoweeksofromotheodateooforeceipto/opresentationoofocertifiedocopyo ofothisoorder.o

46.ooooooooooooooooDisposedoofoaccordingly.o

47.ooooooooooooooooAllopendingoapplicationso(ifoany)oshallostandoclosed.o o o Novembero22,o2023o o o o o (HARSHoBUNGER)o gurpreeto o o o o o o o JUDGEo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/No o o

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP-13091-2023 (O&M) Date of decision : 22.11.2023 SHRUTI BEDI …Petitioner Versus PANJAB UNIVERSITY, SECTOR 14, CHANDIGARH THROUGH ITS VICE CHANCELLOR AND OTHERS …Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSH BUNGER Present : Dr. D.S. Patwalia, Senior Advocate with Mr. Kannan Malik, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Akshay Kumar Goel, Advocate for respondents No.1 to 4. Mr. Rajiv Atma Ram, Senior Advocate with Mr. R.K. Hooda, Advocate Ms. Sanah Sahni, Advocate Ms. Shreya Kaushik, Advocate and Ms. Rahat Sekhon, Advocate for respondent No.5. Mr. Rahul Pandey, Advocate and Mr. Abhay Gupta, Advocate for respondent No.6. Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Advocate and Mr. Arvind Gulav, Advocate for respondents No.7 and 8.