Supreme Court clears way for judicial officers to become District Judges

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A presumption    of the Supreme Court of India. Image for the intent  of practice   only.

A presumption of the Supreme Court of India. Image for the intent of practice only. | Photo Credit: File

In a bid to infuse young endowment into the precocious echelons of the territory judiciary, a Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai connected Thursday held that judicial officers with 7 years successful the Bar earlier their recruitment to the subordinate judicial work are entitled to beryllium appointed arsenic District oregon Additional District Judges.

District Judges are considered for assignment to the High Court. So far, lone practising lawyers with 7 years’ acquisition were eligible for nonstop recruitment arsenic District Judges. In-service judicial officers, adjacent with 7 years of erstwhile signifier arsenic advocates, were not considered, starring to stagnation and deficiency of drive, which the tribunal observed whitethorn beryllium 1 of the reasons for pendency successful little courts.

Chief Justice Gavai reasoned that a lawyer does not cease to beryllium 1 upon joining the judicial service.

The tribunal noted that nary eligibility criteria are prescribed nether Article 233(2) for a idiosyncratic already successful judicial work of the Union oregon the State for being appointed arsenic District Judge. “A idiosyncratic who has been oregon who is successful judicial work and has a combined acquisition of 7 years oregon much arsenic an advocator oregon a Judicial Officer would beryllium eligible for being considered and appointed arsenic a District Judge/Additional District Judge nether Article 233 of the Constitution,” the Bench held successful its judgment.

Further, the Constitution Bench directed that the minimum property for being considered and appointed arsenic a District Judge oregon Additional District Judge, some for advocates and judicial officers, would beryllium 35 years arsenic connected the day of application.

The tribunal directed State governments, successful consultation with High Courts, to framework oregon amend the rules successful accordance with this judgement wrong 3 months.

Published - October 09, 2025 04:58 p.m. IST

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