The Supreme Court of India allows judicial officers with seven years of Bar experience to compete for District Judge posts under the Bar quota through direct recruitment.

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Case Overview

Case Name: Rejanish KV vs. K Deepa & Ors

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India, comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices MM Sundresh, Aravind Kumar, Satish Chandra Sharma and K Vinod Chandran, ruled that judicial officers having seven years of prior practice as advocates are eligible for appointment as District Judges under the Bar quota . The judgment overruled the 2020 decision in Dheeraj Mor v. High Court of Delhi, which had disqualified in-service judges from applying under the Bar quota . The Court stated that injustice was caused to such officers by excluding them from this process .

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Key Aspects

The case addressed the eligibility criteria for judicial officers seeking promotion through direct recruitment under the Bar quota . It clarified long-standing doubts regarding experience and timing of eligibility .

• Judicial officers with seven years’ Bar experience before joining service can apply for District Judge posts .
• The Supreme Court of India clarified eligibility must be assessed at the time of application .
• The 2020 Dheeraj Mor ruling was overruled as being restrictive and unfair .
• State Governments must now frame rules aligning with this judgment .

Legal Insights

The Constitution Bench examined Article 233(2) of the Constitution of India, which governs the appointment of District Judges :

• Article 233(2) – A person not in service of the Union or State with at least seven years as an advocate or pleader may be appointed as District Judge, on High Court recommendation .
• The Court clarified that experience as a judicial officer combined with prior Bar practice meets this requirement .
• The ruling ensures fairness and broadens eligibility to include talented in-service candidates .

Court’s Verdict

The Supreme Court of India held that judicial officers with seven years of prior Bar practice are eligible for appointment as District Judges under the Bar quota . The Court directed State Governments to revise recruitment rules accordingly and declared that the decision would apply prospectively to future selections . The Constitution Bench emphasized that merit and competition, not restrictive interpretation, must guide judicial appointments .

Source – Supreme Court of India 

Read also – Constitution of India

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