Nobody is doubting about Rahul's merit, but this is not an award that he is getting. It is a relaxation of rules, in effect bending rules. It is not about being partner/associate in a law firm. It's about permanent faculty members drawing institutional salary, who are accepting profitable commercial work outside the institution, perhaps in violation of BCI/UGC rules. I do not think it can be considered on a subjective basis by the VC/EC of NLSIU without any proper institutional policy as to exactly under what circumstances this can be allowed. That may at some point of time lead to only cronies of the VC getting such relaxations (we have seen plenty of such instances all over the NLU circuit, though I am not repeat not casting any aspersion on Rahul). Where to draw the line needs to be determined: had it been a tier 2 firm? Had it been a principal associate position and not a partner? Had it been a retainership from a corporate house? Had it been a junior assistant professor? These are some very common questions that may arise to be sorted out properly.