Supreme Court Clarifies Three-Year Practice Rule for Judicial Officers Joining Before May 20

The Supreme Court clarified that Judicial Officers appointed before May 20, 2025, were not bound by the three-year bar practice requirement when applying for judicial services in other States.

The Court held that the condition, reintroduced through its earlier judgment, applied prospectively only to candidates entering service after that date. The Court observed that officers appointed earlier could seek appointment elsewhere, provided they had completed three years of service in their present State.

The clarification arose from an application filed by a Judicial Officer who joined service before the mandate existed and later sought to participate in recruitment in another State. 

The Court removed ambiguity and issued the clarification accordingly.

[All India Judges Association v Union of India]