Supreme Court retains 3-year practice rule for judicial service entry

The Supreme Court maintained its three-year practice rule for entry into the judicial service, though it altered the implementation details. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Augustine George Masih delivered the majority opinion, while Justice K Vinod Chandran dissented. The court emphasized the necessity of familiarity with court procedures and the roles of the Bench and Bar for civil judges upon their first day of service.

This rule change followed the court's May 2025 ruling that reinstated the practice requirement, reversing a 2002 decision that had permitted fresh law graduates to apply directly. Aspirants challenged the decision, arguing that it lacked empirical support and overlooked the legal training inherent in legal education. The Supreme Court acknowledged the hardship imposed on law graduates and proposed a structured combination of institutional training at State Judicial Academies and supervised law clerkships as alternatives to the practice requirement.

A two-year transition window was established for recruitment notifications issued between May 20, 2025, and March 31, 2027. During this period, fresh law graduates could apply for judicial service examinations without meeting the practice requirement. Upon appointment, these candidates would serve as "Trainee Judicial Officers" and undergo one year of intensive training at the State Judicial Academy, treated as equivalent to one year of practice.

After completing this, they would undergo another year of law clerkship, including rotations under higher judicial officials, before becoming regular judicial officers.

For recruitment notifications issued after April 1, 2027, candidates must demonstrate at least one year of actual practice, supported by a certificate of court proceedings participation, before qualifying for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination. Even then, they will still need to complete the same one-year judicial academy training and one-year clerkship before assuming their regular judicial roles.

The Supreme Court instructed all high courts and state governments to update their service rules with this revised framework within three months, with the scheme set to remain in force for five years, following which its impact will be reviewed based on empirical data.