Civil Judge Selection Process In India: Step By Step Process

Overview: Are you aiming to become a civil judge and willing to understand the selection process? Don't worry—in this blog, we have simplified the selection process so you can understand it clearly! Keep reading to understand more! 

If you aspire to become a judge after your LL.B., you must appear in the Judicial Services Examination or PCS (J).

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Cracking the Judiciary exam is difficult. However, you can achieve it with steadfast determination and adherence to the correct course of action. 

In this blog, we will cover:

• Qualifications for Becoming a Civil Judge
• Steps Involved in the Civil Judge Selection Process 

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Qualifications for Becoming a Civil Judge

You need to fulfil some qualification requirements before applying for the Judiciary Exam. The primary requirements are age, nationality, qualification, and experience. Alongside that, you also have to fulfil some additional requirements:

Age:

The minimum age is 22, and the maximum age for the general category is 35 at the time of recruitment (General), while SC/ST aspirants should be below 40-45, depending on the state and category.

Qualification:

You must have an undergraduate law degree from a university recognised by the UGC and BCI. The minimum percentage for the general class is 50%; however, some states have different requirements, such as 60%, 70%, or 75%.

Here is the basic Judiciary eligibility criteria:

Nationality:

You must be an Indian citizen when applying for the Judiciary exams.

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Steps Involved in the Civil Judge Selection Process 

The Civil Judge recruitment process begins only after the notification is announced. This means that the respective state announces the number of vacancies through its Public Service Commission/ High Court website.

If you wish to apply for the vacancy, you must register for the exam as soon as the portal opens and becomes live.

After registering, you can begin the application process by generating login credentials. This includes providing your full details and attaching your documents. After you finish these things, you can complete your submission after paying the fees.  

Once your application is verified, you will be eligible for the preliminary examination. This is the first stage of the selection process, and only those who clear it can proceed to the next.  

Read Here - How to Prepare for Judiciary Exam

All candidates who qualify for the Prelims are eligible to appear in the Main Examination. This round includes subjective questions and focuses on analysing candidates' in-depth understanding of law and legislation.  

The interview round is designed to evaluate the personalities of candidates who have cleared the Mains; the Mains score and the interview will be considered the benchmark cut-off for recruitment.  

The final selection is made by adding the weightage of the Mains and Interview. The Merit list doesn’t include the preliminary score.  

Notes: The required documents include your Academic Certificates (10th, 12th, LLB/LLM), Caste Certificate, Residential/Domicile, and Bar Council registration certificate. 

Preliminary Examination of Civil Judge Selection Process

This is the initial step you will encounter. The initial screening test is considered an eligibility examination.

Learn Here - How to Prepare GK for Judiciary Exam? 

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Main Examination of Civil Judge Selection Process

The Mains are considered one of the core selection examinations as they hold weightage in the final round.

The core idea of Main’s examination is to understand the concept and understanding you have as a lawyer about different laws and their implementation process. It also has questions about current affairs and other general legal topics.  

Know about: Mains Answer Writing for Judiciary Examination

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Interview Round of Civil Judge Selection Process

The interview round is the final stage of evaluating the candidate's intelligence, understanding, and cohesiveness. The interviewers focus on selecting an aspirant with both intellectual and social understanding. Questions will be asked from both personal and professional domains.

For example:  

1. Tell us about your educational qualifications and what your plans are regarding the same 
2. What should be the parameters of passing a judgment in a land dispute case? 

These are some of the questions you might encounter in the interview round. To prepare like a pro, you must know Personal Interview Preparation Tips for Judiciary Exams. 

The score of this section ranges from 50 to 100. Also, you need to score more than 45% in this round to reach the final merit list.  

Note: The interview round score may change depending on the state responsible for conducting the examination.  

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Final Civil Judge Selection Process 

The final round includes preparing the Merit list. This list includes the names of aspirants who have achieved sufficient scores to exceed the cut-off for the Civil Judge recruitment.

In this stage, the merit list is prepared by combining the scores from the Mains and interview rounds, and the final call letter is sent to the selected individuals. You can also find your name amongst the candidates if you score an aggregate of more than 50% after the score of Mains and Interview is compiled.  

Conclusion 

Becoming a Civil Judge is undoubtedly challenging, yet it is a path filled with opportunities to substantially impact the judiciary and society. Understanding and meticulously following the selection process will equip you with the necessary tools to navigate this competitive landscape.

Remember, each phase of the examination demands perseverance, in-depth knowledge, and a strategic approach to problem-solving.

We encourage you to approach your preparation with optimism and rigour, leveraging all available resources to enhance your readiness.

With determination and proper preparation, you can transform your aspirations into reality. Good luck on your journey to a rewarding career as a Civil Judge.