Mumbai varsity lecturer moves court against UGC directive

MUMBAI, July 28: A writ petition by a newly-selected university lecturer has for the first time challenged a directive of the University Gr...

MUMBAI, July 28: A writ petition by a newly-selected university lecturer has for the first time challenged a directive of the University Grant Commission (UGC), that imposes a ban on a full-time lecturer from practising in the court of law as well.

The petitioner Ashok Kotangle, is a post graduate in law and had been practising for the last eight years, besides having been a part time lecturer in a few city colleges. He was recently selected for the post of a full-time lecturer in the department of law, University of Mumbai, but his appointment will be subject to the fulfilment of conditions imposed by UGC and adopted by the University of Mumbai.

Advocate MP Vashi, who represented Kotangle, said that since lectures in the university’s department of law are held only in the evening, a ban in his practise is unjustified as it infringes on his freedom to practise his profession. He maintained that this direction is therefore unreasonable, and prayed that the court strike it down as unconstitutional.

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The petition maintained that the directives of UGC however allows a full time teacher of law to take up social action/public interest litigation matters and also allows to undertake chamber and legal consultancy work.A division bench of Justice A C Agarwal and Justice S D Gundewar upon hearing the petition last week had issued notices to Bar Council of India, Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and the UGC who will have to put in a reply. The matter will next be heard on August 26.

The university counsel, Rui Rodrigues said, “this being an UGC directive, the university is obliged to follow the same.

"It is for the court to decide about the reasonableness of the directive.”