Authority: High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla

Order Date: 21 August 2026

Case Overview

  • Petition No. CWP 1322/2019 filed by Abhinav Chaudhary seeking admission under the Ward of Armed Forces reservation for the BA LLB (Hons) and other courses of Himachal Pradesh University.
  • Respondents: Himachal Pradesh University Summerhill and others, represented by advocates Ms. Ranjana Pathania, Ms. Archana Dutt, and Additional Advocate General Mr. Y.P.S. Dhaulta; the State Education Department represented by the Additional Advocate General.
  • Reliefs prayed: (1) Grant admission under the Ward of Armed Forces quota; (2) Direct the University to amend its prospectus, rules and norms for the BA LLB (Hons) and other courses to reflect the reservation.
  • On 03 July 2026, the Court noted a letter dated 02 July 2026 from the University to the Special Secretary (Education), Government of Himachal Pradesh, stating that the University’s First Ordinances do not provide for reservation for Armed Forces wards and that no clear State instruction exists.
  • A subsequent letter dated 27 June 2026 from the Special Secretary (Education) to the Government indicated that the University, as the contesting party, must defend the case.
  • The Court observed that the State Education Department and the University were shifting responsibility without providing a clear stand on whether reservation should be granted for the five‑year LL.B. professional degree.
  • On 01 August 2026, the Deputy Advocate General placed on record instructions from the Secretary (Education) stating that after consideration, the State Government has no proposal to provide reservation to wards of serving Armed Forces personnel for the said course and that this stand should be communicated to the Court.
  • The petitioner did not appear on 03 August 2026, nor on the subsequent date of 20 July 2026 when the Court listed the respondents to present their position.

Final Outcome

  • The petition was dismissed in default due to the petitioner’s non‑appearance.
  • The Court accepted the State Government’s position that there is no proposal to grant reservation to Armed Forces wards for admission to the five‑year LL.B. program.
  • All pending miscellaneous applications, if any, were ordered to stand disposed of.

Topics: Reservation Policy, Higher Education, Legal Judgment