Supreme Court mandates minimum 3 years of law practice to join judicial service
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Tuesday restored the condition of minimum 3 years of law practice mandatory in order to apply for entry-level posts in judicial service.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justices AG Masih and K Vinod Chandran observed that allowing fresh law graduates to join the judicial service without any practical experience has "led to many issues".
"We hold that the three-year minimum practice requirement to appear for civil judges (junior division) exam is restored .... All State governments shall amend rules to ensure that for any candidate appearing for the civil judges (junior division) exam shall have a minimum practice of three years," the top court observed.
"The said requirement of minimum years of practice shall not be applicable where the concerned High Court has already initiated the selection process for the post of civil judge and shall be applicable for next recruitment process," the Court added.
To fulfil the said requirement, the candidate must possess a certificate duly certified either by the Principal Judicial officer of that court, or an advocate of that court having minimum standing of 10 years duly endorsed by the Principal Judicial officer of that district or a Principal Judicial Officer of such station.
"For the last 20 years, during which the recruitment of fresh law graduates have been appointed as judicial officers without a single day of practice at the bar has not been a successful experience. Such fresh law graduates have led to many problems," the top court added, explaining the rationale behind the judgment.
- PTC NEWS
