Allahabad High Court Flags Bias in State Corporation Lawyer Appointments, Seeks Merit-Based System

The Allahabad High Court criticised the “entitlement culture” in State corporation lawyer appointments, noting that only individuals from influential families are chosen while competent first-generation lawyers are overlooked.

The Court stressed that counsel selection must be fair, transparent, and based on merit, with officials assessing competence through incognito observation of court proceedings.

In the present case involving Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport (UPSRTC), the Court found professional negligence by counsel before the labour court and directed the Corporation to devise a merit-based appointment system.

The UPSRTC Board must finalise a scheme and present it to the Court on September 22.

[Smt. Jubeda Begum and Another vs UP State Road Transport and Another]