ARMY INSTITUTE OF LAW Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition seeks quashing of the impugned order dated 28.3.2006, Annexure P-5, read with corrigendum dated 26.4.2006, Annexure P-6, directing that 12 seats of Punjab Residents be filled up by separate entrance test.

(2.) Case of the petitioner is that the petitioner Institute has been established by the Army Welfare Education Society, primarily to impart legal education to the wards of the army personnel. The Government of Punjab had given concession in the matter of allotment of land and it was agreed that out of the in take of 80 seats, 12 seats i.e. 15% will be reserved for Punjab Residents Civil Category and 4 seats for All India Residents Civil Categories. The Institute is affiliated to the Punjabi University, Patiala. The Institute was earlier following its own procedure for admission, but in the year 2006, the State Government decided to fill up 12 seats through centralized counselling. Thereafter for the session 2007-08, the State Government decided that the petitioner-institute may conduct separate entrance tests for Army Category and 12 seats, reserved for Civil Category should be filled up through Common Entrance Test.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that holding of separate entrance tests for the two categories was not justified and all the admissions should be made in the same test, which may be conducted or regulated by respondent No. 2.