Delhi HC Allows Serving and Retired Group-A Officers with Law Degrees to be Appointed as Special Metropolitan

The Delhi High Court ruled that both serving and retired officers holding Group-A posts for at least five years with law degrees are eligible for appointment as Special Metropolitan Magistrates.

Relying on Section 18(1) of the CrPC, 1998 Rules, and application guidelines, the Court clarified that retirement-related fields in the application apply only to retired candidates and do not restrict eligibility to them alone.

The Court upheld the nomination of six officers serving on the relevant cut-off date, dismissing challenges against their appointments.

[Abdul Aleem v High Court of Delhi and Ors]