Supreme Court Reinstates 3-Year Practice Rule for Judicial Services

Published by Vashishth Academy – Ludhiana’s Trusted Institute for UPSC, PCS & Judiciary Prep

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📌 Context: A Landmark Ruling on Judicial Entry

The Supreme Court of India has revived the 3-year legal practice requirement for candidates seeking entry into the subordinate judiciary.
This decision, delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, aims to ensure that new judges have adequate real-world legal experience before taking charge of courtrooms.

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🏛️ Background: The Rise, Fall & Return of the Rule

🔍 Earlier, the belief was that strong pre-service training could replace courtroom exposure — but the Court now emphasizes that practical knowledge is irreplaceable.

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📜 Key Highlights of the Supreme Court Judgment

1. Minimum 3 years of legal practice required

   • Must be certified by a senior advocate with 10+ years of experience.

2. Law clerkship experience will count as valid practice.

3. 1-year mandatory judicial training before appointment to the bench.

4. Applies to all candidates appearing for Judicial Services Exams across states.

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📉 Criticisms & Concerns Raised

Despite its intention to improve quality, the ruling has sparked debate:

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💡 Alternative Suggestions by Legal Experts

Several law scholars argue that reform is better than restriction. Proposed solutions include:

1. Extended Judicial Training

   • 2-year pre-service courses with mentorship, live court simulations, and judgment writing practice.

2. Exam Pattern Reform

   • Shift from rote memorization to scenario-based questions and judgment writing tasks.

3. Dual Entry System

   • One stream for experienced lawyers

   • Another for freshers with strong training and supervision

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🧠 For Exam Aspirants: Relevance in UPSC, PCS, and Judiciary Exams