Supreme Court Reinstates 3-Year Practice Requirement for Judicial Service Aspirants

The Supreme Court has reinstated the mandatory requirement of a minimum three-year practice as an advocate for entry-level judicial service posts.

This applies only to future recruitment processes, not ongoing ones. The practice period will be counted from the date of provisional enrollment, and candidates must submit a certificate from a senior advocate (with 10+ years of experience), endorsed by a judicial officer.

The Court, acknowledging concerns over inexperienced candidates, emphasized the need for practical exposure before joining the judiciary. This reverses the 2002 relaxation that allowed fresh graduates to apply directly.

Experience as law clerks can also be counted towards the 3-year practice condition.

The next hearing in the All India Judges Association case is on July 9, 2025.