Life of a Civil Judge in India: Duties & Responsibilities

Overview: Every year, several law graduates appear for the judiciary examinations for several states, hoping to become judges in India. As lucrative as this Career option looks, there is a lot of on-field reality that everyone should know.

If you are aspiring to become a Judge, it's essential to understand the duties, responsibilities, lifestyle, perks, and allowances associated with the role. Furthermore, Judges are expected to uphold honour and impartiality and maintain a high stature in any court.

In India, a Judge is referred to as the 'Custodian of the Constitution' and presides over courtroom proceedings.

They are tasked with resolving case issues, researching laws, overseeing court staff, engaging with lawyers to encourage settlements, establishing procedures and rules, and even officiating marriage ceremonies to issue licenses/certificates.

In this blog, we will understand:

• Duties & Responsibilities Of a Civil Judge
• Perks & Benefits of a Civil Judge
• Pros and Cons of Judiciary as a career

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Duties & Responsibilities Of a Civil Judge

Judicial Training

After being selected for service through a rigorous three-stage process, a Civil Judge undergoes training under the aegis of the Judicial Academy, lasting 11 to 12 months. During this duration, the batch of new appointees attended several lectures and seminars by legal luminaries to acquaint themselves with the workings of courts and practicalities.

All newly recruited judge to undergo a series of departmental examinations and, after that, they take up the charge in court.

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Workload of cases

There is a high pendency of cases across all courts; therefore, there is a lot of pressure on civil judges to diligently perform their day-to-day duties and clear as much of the backlog as possible. Although the usual service timings are 9 am to 5 pm, the job demands much more in light of mounting work and high pressure.

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Involves a lot of Reading and Preparedness

A judge is expected to be well versed not only with the law in force but also in the facts of the particular case that she/he is hearing. Consequently, the job of judicial officers involves a lot of reading. Often, the officer might also have to take the court files home to come prepared for the hearing the next day.

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A lot of responsibility

A judge's work is one of the most responsible, due to the nature of the work and seriousness involved; every judge should be very responsible.

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Different Kind of Social Life

To maintain a sense of impartiality, judges usually live in ways that are secluded from society. This is so because any possibility of biases in their court work can raise questions about the trust and belief of society in the Indian justice delivery mechanism.

Regular Transfers

Every three years, each court officer is given a new assignment. This implies that judges rotate from city to city within their state every few years. Such moves can affect a judge's ability to remain in office and cause problems in their personal lives.

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Opportunity to contribute to society effectively

Needless to say, besides being one of the most revered government services in law, judicial services also offer an opportunity to serve one’s nation by aiding in the administration of justice. As a result, a dedicated and empathetic judge can significantly contribute to moving the wheels of the justice delivery mechanism.

 Perks & Benefits of a Civil Judge

Judicial Services is a highly prestigious and respected government profile. It gives you all the perks and privileges of being a state government official and provides job security even in today's share-and-fire culture.

• Handsome Salary

Judicial services are one of the highest-paying government services. The salary of a Civil judge varies from state to state. Still, a newly recruited Judicial Officer generally receives an in-hand salary ranging from 60,000 to 80,000 per month, depending on various factors such as the state, educational qualifications, etc.

However, these figures are expected to increase exponentially after the recommendations of the second Judicial Pay Commission are enforced.

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• Life and Other Benefits

Besides generous pay, any judicial officer is granted many other perks and allowances, such as a government residence, a driver, a telephone, a travel allowance, and health and life insurance.

This means that judicial services provide decent monetary rewards and decrease one’s usual expenditure by many other non-monetary benefits. As a result, the life of a Judicial Officer is much better than that of any other person who is earning a similar amount of remuneration through self-employment or a private job.

• Independence of Office

A Civil Judge enjoys the independence of the office. This implies that, subject to the supervisory and administrative control of the superior Judiciary, a judicial officer is the master of their Court and exercises independence in their work.

Conclusion:

• Becoming a Judge offers significant advantages, including earning respect, honour, and a prominent position in society. Judges receive a handsome salary package along with other benefits.
• However, the role of a Judge can also be highly stressful, as they must meticulously analyse observations and details while maintaining impartiality.