Supreme Court of India: Reduces Judicial Service Entry Practice Requirement to One Year

• The Supreme Court has reduced the mandatory practice requirement from three years to one year for direct recruitment as Civil Judges (Junior Division).
• Law graduates can now apply directly without prior experience, but must complete a structured training and clerkship program.
• The new framework includes one year of intensive training at the State Judicial Academy and one year of law clerkship under senior judges' supervision.

For law graduates aspiring to judicial service, the judgment offers transitional relief while setting a new model: limited prior practice, followed by supervised training and clerkship before taking on judicial responsibilities.

The Supreme Court of India has made a significant change to its judicial service entry framework, reducing the mandatory practice requirement from three years to one year. This decision allows law graduates to apply for direct recruitment without prior experience. The new framework also includes a structured training and clerkship program, which consists of one year of intensive training at the State Judicial Academy and one year of law clerkship under the supervision of senior judges.

The Supreme Court's decision is a response to concerns raised by law graduates about the earlier three-year practice requirement. The Court had previously restored this rule in May 2025, citing the importance of courtroom experience for candidates entering the trial judiciary. However, the new framework aims to strike a balance between practical training and the aspirations of young law graduates seeking judgeship.

The Supreme Court's decision has significant implications for law graduates aspiring to judicial service. With the reduced practice requirement, they can now apply directly without prior experience. The new framework also provides a structured training and clerkship program, which will equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to take on judicial responsibilities. This change is expected to increase diversity in the judiciary and provide opportunities for talented law graduates who may not have had access to courtroom experience otherwise.

Law graduates seeking judicial service should note that the Supreme Court has reduced the mandatory practice requirement from three years to one year, allowing them to apply for direct recruitment without prior experience. They should also be aware of the new structured training and clerkship framework, which includes a one-year intensive training at the State Judicial Academy and a one-year law clerkship.

Source: Original reporting via {Source}