Judicial Officers Who Joined Before May 20 Not Bound By 3-Year Practice Mandate To Apply For Services In Other States : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has clarified that Judicial Officers, who joined the service before the judgment delivered on May 20, 2025 - which reintroduced the mandate for three years' practice at the bar to enter Judicial Service- need not meet this practice condition in case they are applying for judicial services in any other state. However, this is subject to the condition that they have completed three years of service in the present state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed this order while considering the application filed by a person who has been serving in the Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service as a Civil Judge Junior Division since 2019. She entered the judiciary within one year of enrollment with the Bar Council of Delhi, since at that time, there was no mandate of minimum practice to join the judicial service.

Now, the applicant is desirous of applying for the Judicial Services in other States. However, since she does not have three years of practice at the bar, she filed the application seeking a clarification.

The bench observed that the three year practice condition will not apply to the applicant since she has completed six years in the judicial servie.

The bench clarified :

"However, in order to remove any ambiguity, we further clarify that in case of Judicial Officers, who are appointed prior to the passing of the judgment dated 20.05.2025, referred to above, 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 : All India Judges Association v. Union of India

Click here to read the order