The Grant of Honorarium to Legal Researcher Scheme

Description
The scheme "The Grant of Honorarium to Legal Researcher Scheme" was launched by the Law Department, Union Territory of Puducherry. The scheme aims to address the high volume of cases before various fora where Departments find it very hard to submit their defense documents Affidavits/Reply Statements/Counter Affidavits at the appropriate time through the Law Officers, leading to officers of the Administration facing unnecessary embarrassment before the Courts. The scheme provides for engaging 15 Legal Research Assistants on a fixed honorarium for an initial period of two years, potentially extendable for one more year, in order to obtain the services of the best incumbents and to follow up all legal issues including Court matter pending. The applications for this scheme are accepted by the Under Secretary to Government, Law Department, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry.

Benefits
• Research Assistant shall be paid ₹25,000/- per month (Rupees twenty-five thousand only) as honorarium, for their assignment.
• The assignment will be initially for a period of two years from the date of engagement.
• The assignment can be extended for a further period of not exceeding one more year, subject to the approval of the Secretary to Government (Law).
• Research Assistants are permitted access to the Computers and internet facilities as available in the Law Department.
• Research Assistant shall be entitled to one day Casual Leave for each Calendar Month.
• The un-availed Casual Leave in a particular month may be carried forward, subject to a maximum of 2 days.
• The maximum eligibility of Casual Leave in a Calendar Year is 8 days.
• *Research Assistant shall not be entitled to any other allowances or perks.
• *Research Assistant shall not be treated or deemed to be an employee either in the Law Department or of the service of the Department of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• The Legal Researchers shall be attached to the major Departments of this Administration, including Law, Police, Education, Revenue, Health, Local Administration Department, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (D.P.&A.R.), Public Works Department, Social Welfare, Civil Supplies, Commercial Taxes, Industries and Commerce, Department of Women and Child Development, and Transport.
• For Male Research Assistant: White/Black Pant, White shirt, Black shoe.
• For Female Research Assistant: White/Off White Saree, White/Off-White blouse.
• The Research Assistant must join their assignment within the period specified in their order of engagement.
• The Research Assistant shall not be entitled to practice as an Advocate in any Court of Law or Tribunal or Authority during the currency of their assignment.
• It will be obligatory for the Research Assistant, after accepting the assignment, to inform the Bar Council concerned, in writing, that he/she shall not practice as an Advocate as long as he/she continues with the assignment as Research Assistant.
• The Research Assistant shall not be entitled to take up any employment or engagement of whatsoever nature either on full-time or part-time basis during the currency of their assignment.
• The Research Assistant should mark their attendance in the Attendance Register which shall be duly authenticated by the respective Head of the Institution in which they are posted from time-to-time and the same shall be communicated to the Law Department, Puducherry.
• The Research Assistant may be required to attend the Office on Saturday/Sunday and other holidays also, in addition to the normal working day, for which he/she shall not be paid any honorarium/remuneration.
• The Research Assistant will be permitted to proceed on Casual Leave only with prior permission of the respective Head of Institution.
• If any Research Assistant is found to be exceeding the permissible limit of 8 days of Casual Leave in a Calendar Year, necessary deductions will be made from their honorarium, on pro-rata basis.
• If the Research Assistant intends to leave the assignment within a period of two years, they shall be required to give prior notice of one month.
• The assignment of any Research Assistant may be discontinued even before the completion of one year, without notice, if his/her services are found to be unsatisfactory.
• During the assignment, every Research Assistant shall maintain a high standard of reputation and integrity commensurate with the responsibilities entrusted to him/her.

Eligibility Criteria
1. - The applicant must be a citizen of India.
2. - The applicant must be a resident of Puducherry.
3. - The applicant must be a Postgraduate in Law (2 years programme) from the recognized Universities in the Indian Union.
4. - The applicant must not be pursuing Postgraduate Degree in Law or any other Degrees or Programmes requiring their compulsory attendance elsewhere.
5. - The applicant must not have attained the age of 30 years as on 1st January or 1st July, preceding the last date fixed for submission of applications.
6. - The applicant must not have attained the age of 32 years as on 1st January, 2023, if applying under the one-time age relaxation granted by the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
7. ****The educational qualifications and other eligibility criteria may be relaxed in case of exceptionally outstanding and deserving candidates by the Government.***
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Application Process
Step 1: Step 1: The interested applicant must access the Official website of the Law Department, Union Territory of Puducherry, to download the application proforma (as prescribed in the scheme). Take a printout of the same.
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Step 1: The interested applicant must access the Official website of the Law Department, Union Territory of Puducherry, to download the application proforma (as prescribed in the scheme). Take a printout of the same.

Step 2: Step 2: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required). The applicant must also affix a self-attested passport size photo and complete the undertaking, declar…
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Step 2: In the application form, fill in all the mandatory fields, and attach copies of all the mandatory documents (self-attest, if required). The applicant must also affix a self-attested passport size photo and complete the undertaking, declaring that the facts stated are true to the best of their knowledge and belief and undertaking to indemnify the Government for any falsehood.

Step 3: Step 3: The completed application, along with copies of all enclosures, must be submitted to the Under Secretary to Government, Law Department, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry. The submission must be completed on or before the specified deadline of …
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Step 3: The completed application, along with copies of all enclosures, must be submitted to the Under Secretary to Government, Law Department, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry. The submission must be completed on or before the specified deadline of 28th April of the respective year, by 05:45 P.M.

Step 4: Step 1: Appearing for Viva Voce
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Eligible candidates will be intimated the date, time, and venue and will have to appear for a viva voce at Puducherry. Candidates must attend the viva voce on their own expenses.

Step 5: Step 2: Final Selection and Engagement
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The final selection shall be based on merit and determined by a Committee comprising the Secretary to Government (Law), the Secretary to Government (Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms), and the Director of Prosecution.
The list of candidates selected by the Committee shall be subject to the approval of the Honorable Lieutenant-Governor, Puducherry, and the successful candidate must join the assignment within the period specified in their order of engagement.

Required Documents
• Proof Of Residential Address (Proof to be enclosed).
• Copy Of Aadhaar Number (Copy to be enclosed).
• Community Certificate (Certificate to be enclosed).
• Copy Of All Mark Lists/ Consolidated Mark Sheet/ Provisional Certificate/ Degree Certificate (Wherever applicable, for B.L/LL.B and M.L/LL.M qualifications).
• Copy Of The All India Bar Examination Certificate (Enclose copy of the Certificates).

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I accept this assignment, am I allowed to continue practicing as a registered Advocate in any Court of Law, Tribunal, or Authority?
A: No, the Research Assistant shall not be entitled to practice as an Advocate in any Court of Law or Tribunal or Authority during the currency of their assignment. It will be obligatory for them to inform the concerned Bar Council in writing.
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Q: What is the maximum age I must not have attained for eligibility based on the first of January or first of July preceding the last date of application submission?
A: The applicant must not have attained the age of 30 years as on 1st January or 1st July preceding the last date fixed for the submission of applications.
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Q: What is the total maximum number of days of Casual Leave I am entitled to avail within one entire Calendar Year during my assignment?
A: The Research Assistant shall be entitled to one day Casual Leave for each Calendar Month. The maximum eligibility of Casual Leave in a Calendar Year is 8 days.
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Q: Has there been any temporary relaxation granted regarding the age requirement for applicants applying under this current recruitment drive?
A: Yes, the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry has granted a one-time age relaxation. Interested eligible candidates must not have attained the age of 32 years as on 1st January.
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Q: What is the fixed amount of financial compensation or monthly honorarium that will be paid to the selected Research Assistant for the duration of the assignment?
A: The Research Assistant shall be paid ₹25,000/- per month (Rupees twenty-five thousand only) as an honorarium for their assignment. They shall not be entitled to any other allowances or perks.
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Q: To which specific authority and postal address should I send or deliver my application proforma and the accompanying copies of all documents?
A: The applications must be submitted to the Under Secretary to Government, Law Department, Chief Secretariat, Puducherry. Applications must use the prescribed proforma downloadable from the Law Department website.
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Q: What is the stipulated duration for which the assignment as a Research Assistant is initially intended to last from the date of engagement?
A: The Research Assistant assignment will be initially for a period of two years from the date of their assignment.
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Q: Are there any requirements regarding my nationality and current residence status that I must fulfill to submit my application?
A: Yes, the applicant must be a citizen of India and must also be a resident of Puducherry.
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Q: If selected, what is the mandatory requirement regarding the timeline for joining the assignment, and will extensions be granted?
A: Candidates must join their assignment within the period specified in their order of engagement. No request for extension of time for joining the assignment will be entertained under any circumstances.
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Q: Following the completion of the initial term, is there any possibility or provision available for extending the period of the assignment?
A: Yes, the assignment can be extended for a further period of not exceeding one more year. This extension is subject to the approval of the Secretary to Government (Law).
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Q: During the period of the assignment, am I permitted to undertake any other form of employment or engagement, whether on a full-time or part-time basis?
A: No, the Research Assistant, during the currency of their assignment, shall not be entitled to take up any employment or engagement of whatsoever nature, either on a full-time or part-time basis.
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Q: What specific level of educational qualification in law is absolutely required for a candidate to be considered eligible for this assignment?
A: A candidate must be a Postgraduate in Law (2 years programme) from the recognized Universities in the Indian Union.
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Q: If I am currently enrolled in or pursuing another advanced degree or program that requires compulsory attendance, am I still eligible to apply?
A: Candidates pursuing a Postgraduate Degree in Law or any other Degrees or Programmes requiring their compulsory attendance elsewhere are not eligible to apply for the assignment as Research Assistant.
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Q: Will I be required to attend the office or perform duties on days such as Saturdays, Sundays, or other public holidays, and if so, will extra pay be provided?
A: The selected candidates may be required to attend the Office on Saturday/Sunday and other holidays in addition to the normal working day. They shall not be paid any honorarium/remuneration for attending on those days.
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