Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to J&K Civil Judge Notification Without 3-Year Practice Rule

The Supreme Court has ruled that its mandate requiring three years of legal practice before entry into judicial service will only apply prospectively, allowing recruitment notifications issued before the judgment date of May 20 to proceed without this condition. This decision came as the Court dismissed a petition challenging the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission's (JKPSC) May 14 notification for Civil Judge (Junior Division) recruitment, which did not include the three-year practice requirement. The bench, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, clarified that the rule would not affect ongoing selection processes and would only be binding for future recruitment cycles. The petitioners, practicing advocates in J&K, sought to quash the JKPSC notification and wanted fresh recruitment rules aligned with the Supreme Court's directive from the All India Judges Association case. The Court noted that the High Court was not aware of the impending Supreme Court ruling when it issued the notification and allowed the petitioners to withdraw their plea. This ruling sets a clear precedent for how judicial recruitment rules will be applied going forward in Jammu & Kashmir and potentially other jurisdictions.