SHANNU BAGHEL vs UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

Judgment text excerpt

$~ * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Judgment reserved on: 18.09.2025 % Judgment delivered on: 24.09.2025 + W.P.(C) 13490/2025 & CM APPL. 55383/2025 SHANNU BAGHEL ..... Petitioner Through: Mr. Shannu Baghel, Mr. Ganpat Ram, Mr. Gorang Goyal, Mr. Aakash, Mr. Saksham Kumar, Ms. Disha Gutpa, Mr. Shubham Prajapati and Mr. Jitendra Kumar, Advs. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR. ..... Respondent Through: Dr. Manika Aroa, CGSC with Mr. Subhro Deep Saha, Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Ms. Anamika Thakur, Mr. Abhinav Verma, Advs. for UOI with Ms. Neha Sharma and Ms. Karnika Bhargava, Advs. Mr. Ankur Mittal, Ms. Rabaica Jaiswal, Advs. for R- 2/NHAI. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA JUDGMENT DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, C.J. 1. The proceedings of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been instituted by an advocate practicing before this Court taking exception to the notification issued by the National W.P.(C) 13490/2025 Page 1 of 16 Signature Not Verified Digiltally Signed By:SREERAM L Signing Date:24.09.2025 11:22:47 Highways Authorities of India (hereinafter referred to as “the NHAI”) on 11.08.2025 for engagement of Young Professional (Legal) on contract basis insofar as the said notification prescribes the recruitment criteria “on the basis of merit in CLAT (PG) score – 2022 onward” 2. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record available before us on this writ petition. 3. It has been argued on behalf of the petitioner that the impugned notification violates Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, stating the reason that selection based only on CLAT (P G) –2022 score is arbitrary and excludes equal or more meritorious law graduates who appear for law entrance examinations for pursuing their post