“Eligibility Isn’t Suitability” - Delhi HC Halts NHAI CLAT PG Recruitment

“Eligibility Isn’t Suitability” - Delhi HC Halts NHAI CLAT PG Recruitment

Ongoing Event

CLAT PG Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25

Sansar Singh ChhikaraUpdated on 26 Sep 2025, 06:07 PM IST

The Delhi High Court has put a stay on the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) recruitment notification dated August 11, 2025. The recruitment notification had termed CLAT PG 2022 exam has the eligibility criteria for hiring lawyers. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held that the CLAT PG scores cannot be adopted as the basis of public employment. Furthermore, the court observed that the CLAT PG exam is merely an eligibility standard for higher studies in law, and it cannot be termed as a suitability criterion for public employment. The decision came after advocate Shannu Baghel filed a writ petition challenging NHAI’s recruitment notification.

“Eligibility Isn’t Suitability” - Delhi HC Halts NHAI CLAT PG Recruitment
“Eligibility Isn’t Suitability” - Delhi HC Halts NHAI CLAT PG Recruitment

NHAI’s recruitment notification for Young Professionals (Legal)

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) issued a recruitment notification on August 11, inviting applications for the post of Young Professional (Legal). The notification was published for the recruitment of a total of 44 posts. Candidates who appeared for the CLAT PG 2022 exam were invited to fill out the application forms. Apart from CLAT PG 2022, candidates who appeared for the exam in 2023, 2024 or 2025 were also eligible to apply. The recruitment was ona contract basis.

NHAI’s recruitment challenged in Delhi HC

Soon after the notification, advocate Shannu Baghel challenged NHAI’s notification in the Delhi High Court. Baghel contended that the recruitment notification from NHAI mentions the CLAT PG exam has eligibility criteria which is arbitrary and violative of constitutional guarantees of equality under Articles 14 and 16. The petitioner further argued that the criterion of appearing CLAT PG exam restricted equally or more meritorious students who did not appear for the CLAT PG exam in the recruitment process.

Delhi High Court stays NHAI’s Recruitment

The division bench of the Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela in the Delhi High Court put a stay on NHAI’s recruitment process for Young Professional (Legal). While passing the decision, the bench said, “This criterion is absolutely vague for the reason that as per the said criteria even if a candidate has secured Zero or Nil marks on his appearance in CLAT (PG) examination, he shall be eligible, whereas if a candidate has not appeared in the CLAT (PG) examination, he shall be ineligible.”

CLAT PG Mock Test
Boost your CLAT PG prep with Careers360's free mock test and detailed solutions. Practice smarter and get exam-ready with expert-curated materials at no cost.
Download EBook

Furthermore, the court said, “Because certain other organisations, including the public sector undertakings, have been adopting CLAT (PG) score as a basis for offering employment, it is not a justification… for the NHAI to prescribe the impugned recruitment criteria.” The division bench concluded the judgment by saying, “In view of the reasons given and discussions made above, we are fully convinced that the impugned ‘recruitment criteria’ where selection for appointment to the post in question is to be made on the basis of merit in CLAT (PG) score – 2022 onwards, is legally not tenable being hit by Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India.”

Articles
|
Certifications By Top Providers
Sociology in India
Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Introduction to Econometrics
Via Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Data Analysis for Social Science Teachers
Via University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Sociological Perspectives on Modernity
Via Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Swayam
 162 courses
Edx
 129 courses
Futurelearn
 74 courses
NPTEL
 74 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to CLAT PG

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT PG ?

Hello,

For CLAT PG 2026 application :

Photograph: JPEG/JPG, 200x230 pixels, 20–50 KB, white/light background, recent passport-size photo.

Signature: JPEG/JPG, 140x60 pixels, 10–20 KB, sign on white paper with black ink, must match exam documents.

Hope it helps !

Hello aspirant,

There are various online platforms, offering previous year's question papers of CLAT PG exam. One of which is careers360, the link of which I am attaching here,

https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-pg-previous-year-question-paper

By solving previous year's papers, you will have a better understanding of exam pattern and confidence to write paper.

Best of luck for your preparation.

Hello,

For CLAT PG 2026, if you aim for top NLUs like NALSAR, NLSIU and WBNUJS, a score of around 75+ marks (rank within 100 ) is generally good for the general category

Cut-offs change every year, so try to score as high as possible for a better chance.

Hope it helps !

Hi Akash,

It is good to see institutions like NMIMS have selected you for master of law based on your CLAT PG scores. If we compare the three then to be very clear:

  • NMIMS Mumbai has strong reputation for it's Kirti Mehra School of Law and has got good academic value.
  • Nirma University is also another good after NMIMS, and has strong reputation for law studies in Gujarat.
  • The DNLU is comparatively newer than the other two and it will take some time to be equivalent to them.

For the best academic value and recognition choose NMIMS, or the Nirma University is also good. The DNLU is newer and can be considered as well but if we choose any one, then it is NMIMS.

ALL THE BEST !

Hello,

Yes, you can get a job in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) through CLAT PG. Here are the key details:

  1. Recruitment Basis – Many PSUs consider CLAT PG (LL.M.) scores for legal positions.
  2. Popular PSUs – ONGC, GAIL, BHEL, Power Grid, IOCL, and others recruit legal professionals via CLAT PG.
  3. Eligibility – Candidates must have an LL.B. degree and appear for CLAT PG.
  4. Selection Process – Shortlisting is based on CLAT PG scores, followed by interviews.
  5. Job Roles – Positions include Legal Advisor, Law Officer, and Assistant Legal Counsel.
  6. Salary & Benefits – Competitive pay, job security, and government perks.

Hope you find it useful !