Court dismisses plea challenging the restriction on multiple applications for empanelment by District Legal Services Authorities
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the restriction imposed by the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) that limits advocates to submitting only one application for empanelment with a preferred District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). The decision was delivered by Justice Amit Mahajan, who upheld the validity of the empanelment process as structured by the DSLSA.
The petitioner, Sachin Chaudhary, had contended that the clause restricting candidates to a single application was arbitrary and unconstitutional. The petitioner argued that this limitation did not align with the eligibility, experience, or merit of candidates, especially given that another clause allowed advocates already empaneled elsewhere to relinquish one panel upon selection.
Justice Mahajan, however, emphasized that the prescription of qualifications, eligibility conditions, and selection procedures primarily falls within the domain of the authority conducting the selection. The court reiterated that it does not sit in appeal over the structuring of the selection process unless there is clear evidence of illegality or arbitrariness.
Clause A(C) of the DSLSA notice, dated June 1, 2026, clearly stipulated that candidates must submit only one application specifying a preferred panel and DLSA, with any multiple applications leading to summary rejection. The court found no inconsistency between this clause and Clause A(D), which deals with relinquishment of existing empanelment and operates at a different stage.
The court further noted that the petitioner had failed to establish any patent illegality or manifest arbitrariness in the impugned clause. Moreover, the application process had already closed, and significant progress had been made in the empanelment process across various DLSAs, making any effective relief untenable at this stage.
As a result, the writ petition was dismissed, reaffirming the authority's discretion in structuring the selection process and maintaining the integrity and uniformity of the empanelment procedure.
Bottom Line :
Empanelment of advocates by District Legal Services Authorities - Condition restricting candidate to only one application for one preferred panel and one preferred DLSA held valid - Prescription of eligibility conditions and selection procedure lies within domain of authority - Clause dealing with relinquishment of existing empanelment does not create right to submit multiple applications - No patent illegality or manifest arbitrariness found - Writ also not entertainable at belated stage after closure and substantial progress of selection process.
Statutory provision(s):
Constitution of India, 1950 Article 226
Sachin Chaudhary v. Delhi State Legal Services Authority, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2989270
