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Career in Judicial Services – Judicial Services Examination or the PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service-Judicial Examination is the entry-level exam for law graduates to become district magistrates, additional district magistrates, ‘munsiffs’, or as a district court judges in India. The lower judiciary exams are conducted by the Public Service Commission of each state. The members of the subordinate judiciary are appointed by the state governments under the supervision of the respective high courts based on the score in this competitive examination. The exam consists of two stages – preliminary exam with multiple-choice questions and mains exam with descriptive type questions. Read on to know more on the job profiles, competencies, and skills of a judge, responsibilities of a judge, level of appointment, eligibility criteria, list of exams, exam pattern, syllabus. To get the complete details about a career in Indian Judicial Services, read the complete article. 

Latest Update: The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) is going to conduct the judicial branch prelims exam for Civil Judge (CV) post on 13th November 2021. The aspirant who applied for CV posts will need to download the HPSC CV Admit Card as soon as it is available. 

Career as a Judge in India 

Becoming a judge in the Indian Judiciary System gives you unparalleled respect and significance in the country. A judge is one of the most respected and crucial positions in the Indian Judiciary system. Apart from these, becoming a judge brings many social and financial benefits to a judicial service aspirant’s life. The responsibility of administering, managing, controlling, interpreting and applying laws as per the constitution of India in the country. Becoming a judge requires a lot of hard work, determination, dedication, and patience. All the decisions in India, in which the question of law arises, are taken by the judiciary system. Judges in India have provided a landmark judgments through which the Indian judiciary system has earned the respect and recognition of the whole world. The judiciary system has the power to provide justice to victims of various types of crimes in India and matters related to a social issue and serious crimes. 

Career in Judicial Services: Job Profiles 

The list of different job profiles related to the judicial services in India is provided below. 

1. Oath Commissioner
2. Notary
3. Magistrate
4. District and Sessions Judge
5. Attorney General
6. Advocate General
7. Public Prosecutor
8. Solicitors
9. Sub-Magistrate

Career in Judicial Services: Competencies and Skills 

The applicants who want to become a judge must have some specific qualities, skills, and competencies as given below. 

1. Critical Thinking: The judges must have the capacity to wisely evaluate the provided evidence when making a decision accordingly.
2. Listening Skills: The judges must be able to listen carefully to the statements of defendants during the trials and hearings.
3. Writing skills: The judges must know how to write their verdicts, decree, and instructions.
4. Oral Communication skills: The directives that the judges provide during a hearing or trial must be clear and concise.
5. Reading knowledge: The judges should be able to comprehend complex documents.
6. Problem-solving: The judges must be able to identify, detect, and solve problems.

Career in Judicial Services: Duties and Responsibilities 

A candidate who has completed graduation in Law is eligible to apply for most of the judiciary exams in India. As judiciary commands huge authority and respect in India, it brings many responsibilities and duties along with it. The important duties of a member of the judiciary are listed below. 

1. Judges determine whether an evidence is acceptable or not.
2. They have the authority to write decree on motions presented by counsel.
3. They have the authority to question witnesses.
4. They listen to witness the necessary evidence.
5. They are authorized to instruct the jury.
6. They hear allegations of the prosecuting and defensive parties.
7. In civil cases, the judges are authorized to determine liability or damages.
8. In criminal court, determine the guilt or innocence of criminal defendants and impose sentences on defendants found guilty.
9. They inform the defendants about their constitutional rights.
10. They are responsible to interpret the law to specify the way to proceed with a trial.
11. They interpret and apply laws or precedents to reach judgments
12. They are responsible to resolve the disputes between parties or determine the outcome of other types of issues
13. The judges instruct juniors on how to consider facts from the evidence presented in trials
14. They are responsible to read and evaluate information from motions, claim applications, records, and other documents
15. The judges write their opinions, verdicts, and instructions regarding cases, claims, and disputes
16. They preside over administrative hearings and read opposing arguments
17. The judges are responsible to take part in clearance or plea consultations in advance of trial
18. They conduct initial proceedings in criminal cases
19. They are responsible to accept and approve the search and arrest warrants

Career in Judicial Services: Level of Appointment

The Constitution of India has envisaged a three-tier judicial system for the State of India. The hierarchy of the judiciary system in India is provided below in descending order.
i) Supreme Court of India,
ii) High Courts in different states, and
iii)Subordinate Courts.
Thus, the judges at these three levels are appointed by different authorities in India.

Supreme Court (SC) Jurisdiction 

At the top of the three-tier judicial system in India is teh Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court is the biggest and final court of appeal as per the Indian Constitution. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the the most prominent jurisdictional post in the country and is the senior-most and highest judge in the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme court of India has the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and 30 Additional Judges and their jurisdiction covers the whole nation. The President of India appoints the CJI after consultation with other judiciary members of the supreme court and high court. The maximum age limit for the position of SC judge is 65 years of age. 

High Court (HC) Jurisdiction 

Every judge of state high court is appointed by the President of India by consulting with the Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice of High Court, and the governor of the state. The number of high court judges in a state varies as per the state. The total number of judges depends on two factors as the average rate of distribution of the cases per Judge per year in that HC, or by dividing the average institutions of chief cases during the preceding five years by the national average, whichever is higher. The maximum age limit for the position of a high court judge is 62 years of age. 

District Court (DC) Jurisdiction 

The district courts in India are governed by the sessional judges and district judges. The judge presiding over a criminal case is known as Session Judge, and the judge presiding over a civil case is known as District Judge. They are considered as the highest authority in the state after the high court judge. The state also has Additional District Judges and Assistant District Judges which depends upon the number of cases in the state. The appointment of district judges is done by the governor after consulting with the chief justice of state high court. To become a district judge, applicants must have completed seven years of practice as an advocate.  

Magistrates or Munsiff

They are appointed by the Central or State Government after consultation with the Chief Justice of the HC of the concerned State.

Career in Judicial Services: Eligibility Criteria 

Lower Judiciary Services– The eligibility criteria for appearing in Judicial Services Examination is:
i) Candidates must be citizens of India
ii) Candidate must have a degree in LL.B and
iii) He/she has enrolled or qualified to be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates’ Act 1961.
Final year candidates can also give the exam and no experience is required for the exam.. The age limit is usually between 21 to 35 years. However, it varies according to the state.

Higher Judiciary Services– Candidates must be law graduates with a minimum number of years of litigating practice; usually seven years.

Career in Judicial Services: List of Exams 

The judiciary exams in India are conducted for various posts by the state authorities. To appear in the judiciary exam, the minimum eligibility criteria is graduation in Law from a recognized university. Find below the list of exams conducted by different authorities to crack for the judicial posts in India as District, Sessional Judge, Magistrate, and Sub Magistrate. 

List of Judiciary Exams in India 

Career in Judicial Services: List of States 

A total of 24 states in India conducts the judicial services exam. The eligibility criteria, exam pattern, pay scale, the recruitment process of all states differs. The list of states is provided below. 

List of States conducting Judiciary Exams 

Career in Judicial Services: Exam Pattern 

Judicial Service Examination is held in three successive stages: Preliminary Examination, Mains and Viva-Voice/Interview

Preliminary Examination– The preliminary examination serves as a screening test for the mains round. It consists of objective type questions. However, the marks obtained in the preliminary exam are not added in the final marks. The minimum qualifying marks in the preliminary exam vary as per state. It is around 60 per cent for general and 55 per cent for reserved categories.

Mains Examination– The Judicial Services Mains examination consists of subjective type questions and consists of three to four papers. The marks secured by candidates in the mains are added to the final marks. From those who appear fo the mians exam, candidates numbering up to three times the number of vacancies are called for viva-voice.

Viva-Voice/Personal Interview– This is the final stage of selection where candidates are assessed on general interest, personality and intelligence among other factors.

Exam Pattern of Indian Judiciary Services

Career in Judicial Services: Syllabus 

The syllabus for Judicial Services exam varies from state to state. The syllabus is broadly divided into Civil law, Criminal Law and Language paper. The weightage of the language paper is around 20 per cent to 35 per cent. The mains examination consists of six to seven papers and almost 70 per cent of the questions are of law.

Syllabus for Preliminary Examination 

In preliminary exams the questions are covered generally from the following topics: 

1. Constitutional law
2. Contract Law and Tort Law
3. General Knowledge and Current Affairs
4. IPC, CPC, CrPC, and The Indian Evidence Act
5. Proficiency in English Language and Aptitude
6. Transfer of Property law

However, some states cover a few additional topics in their preliminary exams as provided below: 

1. Delhi: Principles Governing Arbitration Law, the Partnership Act
2. Goa: Sales of Goods Act, Land laws of Goa, The Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989)
3. Kerala: Kerala Building (Lease and Rent Control) Act
4. Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh Accommodation Control Act, Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code
5. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Nagaland: Proficiency in the official language of Assam
6. Bihar: Elementary general Science, Administrative law, Hindu and Muslim personal laws, Principles of Equity, Law of trusts, Specific Relief Act, Commercial law
7. Chhattisgarh:  Accommodation Control Act, Court fees act, Registration Act and Chhattisgarh Land revenue code, Limitation, and Specific relief acts
8. Karnataka: Karnataka Rent Act

Syllabus for Judiciary Mains Exam 

The syllabus for the judiciary mains exam in India varies for every state. The state-wise list of subjects in brief for the judiciary mains exam is provided below. 

Judiciary Mains Exam Syllabus 

Earlier, in March 2002, the SC had removed the precondition that a 3-year experience at the Bar is required for appearing in the JSE. In a press release issued on January 2, 2021, the Bar Council of India has stated that Judicial Officers who are inexperienced as advocates are found to be inept and incapable of handling matters related to the services. However, if the SC overturns its 2002 order and reinstates a minimum three-year experience as a precondition for appearing in the Judicial Services Exam, it will rule out many fresh law graduates from the competition. The state bar councils may also apply a similar eligibility criteria for the state judicial services examinations.

Career in Judicial Services: FAQs

Some of the frequently asked questions related to a career in judicial services to resolve the remaining queries of the students are provided below. 

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