Petitioner Granted Exemption from 2011 Rules for Parity Among Writ Petitioners

The Court granted similar orders to the Petitioner, exempting them from the operation of the 2011 Rules during ongoing proceedings, emphasizing parity among Writ Petitioners. This decision aimed to ensure consistency and fairness, requiring strict adherence to the terms outlined in the Undertaking provided in the Affidavit for exemption.

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Issues involved:
1. Authorization of exemption statement by the Additional Solicitor General.
2. Competency of the Ministry to grant exemptions.
3. Existence of a filed Review.
4. Parity of treatment among Writ Petitioners.
5. Imparting parity to all Writ Petitioners.

Analysis:
1. The main contention revolved around the authorization of the exemption statement made by the Additional Solicitor General in an earlier order. The Respondent argued that the Ministry was not empowered to grant such exemptions, leading to the filing of a Review.

2. The competency of the Ministry to grant exemptions was questioned, emphasizing that the Ministry lacked the authority to provide exemptions. This raised doubts about the validity of the exemption granted in the previous order.

3. Concerns were raised regarding the existence of a filed Review, as it was not reflected in the records. The absence of details about the Review in the affidavit filed on behalf of the Union of India added to the ambiguity surrounding the Review's status.

4. The need for parity of treatment among all the Writ Petitioners was highlighted to ensure fairness in the proceedings. The Petitioner sought similar treatment as in previous cases to maintain consistency and equality in the application of rules and exemptions.

5. To address the issue of parity, the Court decided to impart similar orders as in a specific case, exempting the Petitioner from the operation of the 2011 Rules during the ongoing proceedings. This decision was based on the understanding that the Petitioner would adhere strictly to the terms outlined in the Undertaking provided in its Affidavit.

Overall, the judgment aimed to maintain consistency and fairness by ensuring that all Writ Petitioners received equal treatment and exemptions during the legal proceedings. The Court's decision to grant similar orders to the Petitioner was based on the principle of parity and adherence to the terms of the Undertaking.

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