Serving Judicial Officers Don’t Need 3 Years’ Bar Practice to Apply in Other States: SC

The Supreme Court has clarified that the mandatory requirement of three years of prior practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial service will not apply to judicial officers appointed before 20 May 2025. Court further clarified that if these officers apply for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in other states, they will be exempt from the Bar-practice requirement provided they have completed three years’ service in their present State.

The May 20, 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court had earlier held that an aspirant to the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) must have practised as an advocate for at least three years to qualify for entry-level judicial service.

A bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai (since retired) and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing an application filed by a woman judicial officer seeking exemption from this requirement.

In her case, the applicant was provisionally enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi on July 28, 2018. At that time, there was no requirement of prior practice at the Bar, and she immediately applied for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Delhi Judicial Services, while also applying for similar posts in other States.

After being selected in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Services, she was appointed as a Civil Judge (Entry Level) on November 19, 2019. She continued applying for judicial posts in other States thereafter.

Her present application arose from the Supreme Court’s May 20, 2025 directions mandating three years of prior practice as an advocate for applying to the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division). She argued that although she had been working as a judicial officer for six years, she did not have three years of practice at the Bar because it had not been required at the time of her entry into the service.

Allowing her plea, the bench observed, “We find that since the applicant has already worked as a Judicial Officer for a period of six years, the said condition would not be applicable to her".

Court added a broader clarification to avoid future ambiguity: “In case of Judicial Officers who are appointed prior to the passing of the judgment dated 20.05.2025, the requirement of three years practice at the Bar would not be necessary, in case they apply for Judicial Services in any other State. This is, however, subject to them completing three years’ service in their present State".

Case Title: All India Judges Association & Ors Vs Union of India & Ors

Judgment Date: November 18, 2025

Bench: CJI BR Gavai (since retired) and Justice K Vinod Chandran