Young, Trained, and Excluded: The Irony of India's New Judicial Path

With the implementation of the new three-year practice requirement, aspirants now face an average delay until the age of 28 before they become eligible to sit for the subordinate judiciary exam. Given the sporadic and often prolonged recruitment cycles across various states, many may not join the bench before the age of 30.

- DR. ASWATHY PRAKASH G.

On May 20, 2025, the Supreme Court of India reinstated a regulation requiring a minimum of three years of legal practice for those aspiring to become Civil Judges (Junior Division). The justification behind the ruling is understandable: to ensure that newly appointed judicial officers possess adequate courtroom experience before adjudicating cases involving life, liberty, and property. Yet while the intent is commendable, the practical implications are far more complicated. In its current form, the rule risks being exclusionary, opaque, and untested, particularly when viewed through comparative and empirical lenses.

A Legal Career in India: Structural Challenges