Minimum three years practice as a lawyer to be eligible for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination.

The verdict, pronounced on May 20, 2025, by a bench comprising Chief Justice B.R Gavai, Justice A.G Masih, and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, comes in the wake of growing concerns from High Courts and legal professionals about the readiness of fresh law graduates to serve as judges without any court practice. The ruling came in the matter of All India Judges Association v. Union of India, a petition challenging the removal of the earlier practice requirement, which allowed fresh graduates to directly enter the judiciary through competitive exams.

Based on the Supreme Court’s order, here are the key points regarding the eligibility for Civil Judge exams:

• Three-Year Practice Rule: The Supreme Court has directed all High Courts and State Governments to amend their service rules to require a minimum of three years of practice as a lawyer to be eligible for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination.
• Judicial Officer Experience: Experience as a judicial officer cannot be counted towards the minimum three years of practice required for Civil Judge exams.
• Purpose of the Rule: The Court noted that allowing fresh law graduates to enter judicial service without any practice experience has led to problems.
• Certification: To meet the practice requirement, a candidate must possess a certificate from a Principal Judicial Officer or an advocate with at least 10 years of standing, which is duly endorsed by a Principal Judicial Officer.
• Effective Date: The new rule is not applicable to any selection process that has already been initiated by a High Court but will apply to all future recruitment processes.
• No Modification: The Court refused to modify its earlier order, stating that doing so would “lead to opening Pandora’s box.”