Tag: Judicial Service

Supreme Court Ruling: Judicial Officers with 7 Years’ Combined Experience Eligible for District Judge Post
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Ruling: Judicial Officers with 7 Years’ Combined Experience Eligible for District Judge Post

This Supreme Court Constitution Bench judgment reinterpreted Article 233(2) of the Constitution. It held that judicial officers are not barred from applying for the post of District Judge through direct recruitment. The Court clarified that the seven-year practice requirement under Article 233(2) applies only to candidates not already in judicial service, thereby overruling contrary precedents like Dheeraj Mor. Facts Of The Case: The case arose from a batch of petitions challenging the interpretation of Article 233 of the Constitution, which governs the appointment of District Judges. The core dispute was whether a person already in the state judicial service (a Civil Judge) could apply for the post of District Judge through direct recruitment, a stream historically reserved fo...
Supreme Court Reins In High Court’s Review Power in Judicial Recruitment Case
Supreme Court

Supreme Court Reins In High Court’s Review Power in Judicial Recruitment Case

The Supreme Court held that the High Court exceeded its review jurisdiction by re-adjudicating matters already decided in the original writ petition. The Court reiterated that review is not an appeal and cannot be invoked to re-examine a contention merely because a different view is possible. The scope of review is limited to correcting errors apparent on the face of the record. Facts Of The Case: The Madhya Pradesh High Court issued an advertisement for recruiting Civil Judges (Entry Level) under amended rules that prescribed new eligibility criteria. The respondents, Jyotsna Dohalia and another, participated in the preliminary examination but failed to secure the cut-off marks of 113. Their writ petition challenging the result was dismissed by the High Court on May 7, 2024, which held ...
Supreme Court’s Big Equality Ruling :Army Can’t Restrict Women’s Numbers After Allowing Them In
Supreme Court

Supreme Court’s Big Equality Ruling :Army Can’t Restrict Women’s Numbers After Allowing Them In

This Supreme Court judgment holds that once the Central Government permits women's induction into the JAG branch via notification under Section 12 of the Army Act, 1950, it cannot subsequently impose gender-based restrictions through administrative policies. Any such limitation violates Article 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, as it constitutes indirect discrimination and exceeds the permissible scope of exceptions under Article 33. Facts Of The Case: The petitioners, two female candidates who secured the 4th and 5th ranks in the women's merit list for the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch's 31st Course, challenged a recruitment notification dated 18th January 2023. The notification prescribed six vacancies for male candidates and only three for female candidates. Despite the petiti...
Judicial Service Reinstatement: Supreme Court Rules Against “Minor Irregularity” Discharge
Supreme Court

Judicial Service Reinstatement: Supreme Court Rules Against “Minor Irregularity” Discharge

The Supreme Court overturned the discharge of a judicial probationer, holding that termination based on alleged misconduct (like simultaneous degrees or non-disclosure of past employment after resignation) without a proper inquiry and opportunity to be heard is stigmatic and punitive, violating principles of natural justice and Article 311 of the Constitution. The Court emphasized that minor omissions after resignation are not grounds for discharge, especially when the probationer completed training successfully Facts Of The Case: Pinky Meena, holding multiple degrees including LL.B. and LL.M., was a Grade-II Teacher in the Rajasthan Education Department from 2014. She applied for the Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate post following an advertisement on November 18, 2017. After selectio...