SC restores 3-year minimum advocacy experience for judicial service aspirants

In a landmark judgment impacting judicial service aspirants across the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated the requirement of a minimum three years of advocacy practice for candidates applying to entry-level judicial posts.

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The ruling clarifies that this condition will apply prospectively to future recruitment processes and not affect any judicial recruitment exercises already initiated by High Courts before this date.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, Justice AG Masih, and Justice K Vinod Chandran delivered the verdict in the All India Judges Association case. The court observed that the period of practice may be counted from the date of provisional enrollment with a bar council.

To validate the condition, a certificate issued by an advocate with at least ten years of standing, endorsed by the judicial officer of the relevant station, will suffice. For candidates practising before the Supreme Court or High Courts, the certificate must be endorsed by an officer designated by the court.

The bench also held that experience as a law clerk can be counted towards the three-year practice requirement.