‘When judges differ, graduates can’t be blamed’: Supreme Court irked over disagreement on law officer exam answer

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation was conducting a written examination to recruit a person to the post of law officer, when the confusion unfolded over a question on judicial review.

Supreme Court news: Observing that when even high court judges differ in their opinions, it would be unreasonable to expect mere law graduates competing for the post of law officer in a municipal corporation to arrive at the correct conclusion, the Supreme Court ordered the civic body to create a supernumerary post to accommodate the petitioner.

Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing a plea challenging a judgment by the division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding a dispute on an answer to a written exam question.

“When the Judges of the High Court are at variance in their opinion as to the correct answer to Question No.73, it is least expected from mere law graduates, who are competing for a post of Law Officer , to reach to a correct conclusion while answering the multiple-choice question by process of interpretation of Constitutional provisions involving this court’s judgments in several decades,” the court said on March 17.

Considering both the petitioner and respondent candidates’ pleas, the court added that both candidates deserve to be accommodated.

With inputs from Sumit Kumar Singh, who is an intern with The Indian Express
Jagriti Rai works with The Indian Express, where she writes from the vital intersection of law, gender, and society.

Working on a dedicated legal desk, she focuses on translating complex legal frameworks into relatable narratives, exploring how the judiciary and legislative shifts empower and shape the consciousness of citizens in their daily lives.

Socio-Legal Specialization: Jagriti brings a critical, human-centric perspective to modern social debates.

Her work focuses on how legal developments impact gender rights, marginalized communities, and individual liberties.

Diverse Editorial Background: With over 4 years of experience in digital and mainstream media, she has developed a versatile reporting style.

Her previous tenures at high-traffic platforms like The Lallantop and Dainik Bhaskar provided her with deep insights into the information needs of a diverse Indian audience.

Academic Foundations:
Post-Graduate in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India’s premier media training institute.

Master of Arts in Ancient History from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), providing her with the historical and cultural context necessary to analyze long-standing social structures and legal evolutions.

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