Supreme Court Restores 3-Year Practice Rule for Judicial Services Exam

On 20th May 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) reinstated the requirement of three years of legal practice for law graduates to apply for civil judge (junior division) posts, reversing its 2002 decision.

  • The ruling came in the matter of All India Judges Association vs. 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.

Context: The 2002 Judgment

  • The 2002 judgment had observed that "the best talent which is available is not attracted to the Judicial Service" and that "a bright young law graduate after 3 ....
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