New Delhi, 21 August (H.S.): The Supreme Court has reduced the mandatory period of legal practice required to appear for the preliminary examination for entry-level judicial service from three years to one year. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, by a 2-1 majority, ruled that candidates selected for judicial appointments will also be required to undergo training at a judicial academy and complete one year of clerkship.

The Supreme Court said candidates appearing for examinations conducted between May 2025 and March 2027 would be allowed to benefit from their previous legal experience. It may be recalled that on May 20, 2025, the Supreme Court had restored the requirement of three years of legal practice for candidates seeking appointment as judges. Review petitions challenging that order were subsequently filed before the apex court.

In a petition filed by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, it was argued that the Supreme Court had not considered the recommendations of five Law Commission reports, which had unanimously rejected the requirement of three years of legal practice as an advocate for appointment as a judge. The petition also referred to the report of the Second National Judicial Pay Commission, 2022, which emphasised the need for consultation with all stakeholders before introducing such a requirement.

Initially, candidates seeking appointment as judges were required to have three years of experience as advocates. However, in 2002, the Supreme Court abolished the three-year experience requirement, thereby allowing fresh law graduates to apply for appointment to judicial posts.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar