SC eases civil judge eligibility from 3-year to 1-year practice, but mandates 2 years of training before judges can preside over courts NEW DELHI: The 20-year-old method for recruiting entry-level trial court judges underwent changes twice in one year as the Supreme Court on Friday relaxed mandatory three-year practice eligibility norm for advocates to apply for judicial officer posts to one-year practice but said they can preside over courts and decide cases only after a two year on-job training.The SC in 1993 had ordered that advocates with three-year practice alone would be eligible to take the tests for posts of civil judges and magistrates. But in 2002, the SC had reversed its decision allowing fresh law graduates to become entry level judicial officers. Significantly, the law commission in 1986 had said fresh law graduates may take the test for judicial officers, but on being successful should take two years intensive on-job training.Making a mixture out of the three-decade spanning endeavour to make judicial officers competent and capable to decide cases, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices A G Masih and Vinod Chandran by two to one majority, Justice Chandran dissenting, said lawyers with one year practice would be eligible to appear in the three-layered examination for judicial officer selection.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAs most HCs favoured retaining the three-year practice eligibility criteria on the ground that fresh law graduates with no exposure to judicial proceedings were found wanting in their behaviour in courtroom and handling of sensitive cases, SC provided a new eligibility criteria with mandatory two-year training period for every advocate who clears the recruitment process.CJI Kant and Justice Masih in the majority judgement said law graduates with one year practice can apply for the posts of judicial officers. On getting selected, they will be designated as ‘Trainee Judicial Officers” and “shall undergo a compulsory period of one year of intensive training at the State Judicial Academy concerned” and will be paid a fixed emolument equivalent to half the salary of magistrates. After one year training, the trainee judicial officers would undergo one year structured law clerkship – six months with the principal district judge and the next six months will be with a sitting HC judge, who will give a report evaluating the performance and suitability of the trainee.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026Ram Kapoor’s approximately Rs 20 crore Mumbai home: A coffin-shaped bar, private theatre room and stunning art collection123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingHyderabad Aston Martin AccidentLadakh TouristMumbai Rape AirhostessMadhapur Road AccidentUKG Student DeathSalman Khan Gym FireAbhijeet DipkeRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir
NEW DELHI: The 20-year-old method for recruiting entry-level trial court judges underwent changes twice in one year as the Supreme Court on Friday relaxed mandatory three-year practice eligibility norm for advocates to apply for judicial officer posts to one-year practice but said they can preside over courts and decide cases only after a two year on-job training.The SC in 1993 had ordered that advocates with three-year practice alone would be eligible to take the tests for posts of civil judges and magistrates. But in 2002, the SC had reversed its decision allowing fresh law graduates to become entry level judicial officers. Significantly, the law commission in 1986 had said fresh law graduates may take the test for judicial officers, but on being successful should take two years intensive on-job training.Making a mixture out of the three-decade spanning endeavour to make judicial officers competent and capable to decide cases, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices A G Masih and Vinod Chandran by two to one majority, Justice Chandran dissenting, said lawyers with one year practice would be eligible to appear in the three-layered examination for judicial officer selection.
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As most HCs favoured retaining the three-year practice eligibility criteria on the ground that fresh law graduates with no exposure to judicial proceedings were found wanting in their behaviour in courtroom and handling of sensitive cases, SC provided a new eligibility criteria with mandatory two-year training period for every advocate who clears the recruitment process.CJI Kant and Justice Masih in the majority judgement said law graduates with one year practice can apply for the posts of judicial officers. On getting selected, they will be designated as ‘Trainee Judicial Officers” and “shall undergo a compulsory period of one year of intensive training at the State Judicial Academy concerned” and will be paid a fixed emolument equivalent to half the salary of magistrates. After one year training, the trainee judicial officers would undergo one year structured law clerkship – six months with the principal district judge and the next six months will be with a sitting HC judge, who will give a report evaluating the performance and suitability of the trainee.
