Prof GS Bajpai duly qualified to be appointed as NLU Delhi Registrar: Delhi HC junks challenge

The Delhi High Court today stated that Prof GS Bajpai was duly qualified to be appointed as the Registrar of National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) and disposed of a petition seeking his removal. (Ashok Kumar Jain & Anr vs National Law University Delhi & Ors).The order was passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar. .Petitioners Ashok Kumar Jain and Nitish Bharadwaj had moved the High Court alleging that Prof Bajpai did not hold any law degree and was thus ineligible to hold any post of law teacher in India. .It was added that since he did not qualify to be a ‘Professor of Law’, his appointment as Registrar of NLU Delhi in 2014 could not be sustained in view of Section 21 of the National Law University Act, 2007..Delhi HC issues notice in plea to remove Prof GS Bajpai as Registrar of NLU-D.After persuing the qualifications mandated in law to qualify as a 'Professor' and then to be appointed as the Registrar of the Univeristy in terms of the Act, the Court opined that the eligibility criteria had not listed a degree in LL.B/LL.M as mandatory pre-requisites. .Remarking that "freestyle" arguments were not allowed, the Court said, "Where is the requirement of LL.B and LL.M? Your read the qualification yourself...".Given the requisite qualifications, the Court thus opined, ."...we see no reason entertain the writ of quo warranto...there is no substance in the writ petition."Delhi High Court .The Court concluded that Prof Bajpai was duly qualified to be appointed as a Professor of Law as well as Registrar of NLU Delhi..Regarding the challenge to the appointment of Prof Bajpai's daughter and his niece as guest faculty and Communication Manager respectively, the Court remarked that the petitioner had the remedy to file pleas before an appropriate forum. .The petition was filed through Advocate Misbahul Haque.Advocate Sanjay Vashishtha with Advocate SD Sharma represented NLU-D.