Supreme Court Modifies Civil Judge Eligibility: 1 Year Training Replaces 3-Year Practice Requirement

The Supreme Court, in a 2:1 verdict, has modified eligibility requirements for Civil Judge (Junior Division) appointments. A three-Judge Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant reconsidered its May 2025 judgment that had restored a 3-year Bar practice requirement.

The Court held that 3 years of conventional Bar practice was not the sole means of gaining courtroom experience. Instead, it devised a transitional regime permitting law graduates to apply until 31 March 2027, after which a 1-year training period combined with law clerkship would suffice to qualify for the position.

The judgment aims to balance the need for courtroom exposure with fairness to fresh law graduates and ensure an adequate candidate pool for the subordinate judiciary.