3 years' advocate practice must to be eligible for judicial service

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has discontinued a two-decade-old practice of allowing fresh law graduates to compete for entry-level judicial officer posts , ruling that only advocates with three years of practice will now be eligible for judicial services.

A bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justices A G Masih and K Vinod Chandran said that judicial officers handle matters of life and liberty from day one, and practical courtroom experience is essential. It noted that appointing graduates without bar experience over the past 20 years had not worked well and led to various issues.

Writing the judgment, CJI Gavai said, "Judges from the very day on which they assume office have to deal with the questions of life, liberty, property and reputation of litigants. Neither knowledge from books nor pre-service training can be a substitute for first-hand experience in courts."

SC said fresh graduates often showed temperament issues after joining service. To ensure applicants have actual practice, it mandated a certificate from a lawyer with 10 years' experience, endorsed by a judicial officer or HC official.