The Supreme Court of India has again focused on issues related to judge's career path who are appointed at the beginner's positions in the judiciary. While hearing an interlocutory application in the age-old All India Judges Association case, the Bench headed by the Chief Justice observed that judicial officers are encountering serious challenges to climb the hierarchy.
In the course of the proceedings, Senior Advocate Siddharth Bhatnagar, presented the systemic issues facing young entrants into the judicial service. He highlighted how officers who are appointed as Judicial Magistrates First Class (JMFC) in some of the states retire prior to achieving seniority at the position of Principal District Judge. This means very few even consider elevations as High Court judges, drastically reducing the pool of available candidates from the lower judiciary.
He is of the view that this stagnation in promotions deters bright law graduates from opting for judicial service over private practice since the long waiting years with no meaningful upward mobility look unappealing.
Proposal for Reservation of Higher Posts:
One of the proposals put before the Court was to reserve a percentage of posts in the cadre of Principal District Judges for officers who have joined service at the JMFC level. With such a step, it was suggested, aspirant lawyers would be encouraged to join the judiciary, and the career judges at all levels of the judicial system would be balanced.
Court's Directions:
Noticing the importance of such concerns, the Supreme Court has opted to consider the issue in detail. All State Chief Secretaries, Union Territories' Administrators, and the Registrars General of High Courts of all states have been served with notices. Every one of them has been instructed to submit responses on concerns urged, with copies to be noted to the Amicus Curiae by October 1, 2025.
The issue is set to be heard once more on October 7, 2025.
Bigger Picture:
This turn of events opens up the issue of judicial reforms, service terms, and the appeal of judicial professions for fresh lawyers once again. By requesting inputs from both the state governments and the high courts, the Supreme Court appears eager to examine systemic ways of providing better career trajectories and higher efficiency in the lower judiciary.
The outcome could potentially reshape promotional structures, thus impacting the future composition of the higher judiciary itself.
