Overview—Are you aiming to take the West Bengal Judicial Service exam and curious about the eligibility requirements? Look no further!

This article offers a thorough overview of the West Bengal Judiciary Eligibility Criteria you must fulfil to appear for this prestigious exam. Stay tuned to ensure you're fully prepared!

The West Bengal Judiciary Service Exam is a state-level examination conducted by the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) to recruit judicial officers.

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Candidates must note that the West Bengal Judiciary Notification will be out soon. So, before applying, it is necessary to check the West Bengal Judiciary Eligibility Criteria, which is explained below in detail:

• Age
• Educational Qualifications
• Work Experience
• Nationality
• Physical Qualification

West Bengal Judiciary Eligibility Criteria 2024

To qualify for the West Bengal Judicial Services, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of India or another nationality as declared eligible by the Government of India.
• Hold a degree in Law from any University or Institution affiliated with a recognized University by the State or Central Government.
• Be enrolled as an advocate in the Bar Council of any State or Union Territory in India on the date of advertisement for the examination.
• Can read, write, and speak in Bengali (not required for candidates whose mother tongue is Nepali).
• Possess good moral character and a clean criminal record.

In addition to the West Bengal Judiciary Eligibility Criteria, specific reservation categories have been specified for recruitment to the West Bengal Judicial Service. These include reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Physically Handicapped persons. The Government of West Bengal determines the allocation of seats in each category.

Age Criteria for West Bengal Judicial Services

As per the official notification, candidates must be between 23 and 35 years old on the date of advertisement for the examination.

Check: West Bengal Judiciary Exam Pattern

Age Relaxation

Check the rules of age relaxation for the WBPCSJ 2024:

(i) The upper age limit is relaxable by five years for SC and ST candidates of West Bengal, by three years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates of West Bengal, and up to 45 years of age for Persons with Disabilities having physical disability of 40% and above and by two years for candidates who have been in Government service for at least two years. 

(ii) A candidate's claim for relaxation of age as a Government employee should be proved by a certificate from the appointing authority showing the period of their continuous service under the Government. The same should be produced on demand. 

(iii) Age will be accepted as recorded only in Madhyamik or equivalent certificate.

Refer to the table for the category-wise age relaxation:

Category	Age Relaxation (in years)
SC of West Bengal	5 years
ST of West Bengal	5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) of West Bengal	3 years
Persons with Disabilities	Upto 45 years of age
Government Service Employee	2 years

Also Read - West Bengal Judiciary Exam Preparation Tips 2024

Nationality Criteria for West Bengal Judicial Services

The candidate must be:

(a) A citizen of India (either natural or by registration), or 

(b) Such other nationals as declared eligible by the Govt. of India

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Work Experience & Educational Requirements

• A degree in Law from any University or Institution affiliated with any University recognised by the State Government or the Central Government; 
• As per clause 49 of the Advocates Act, 1961, “an advocate shall not be a full-time salaried employee of any person, Government, firm, corporation if he/she continues to practise.
• If he/she takes up any such employment, they must inform the Bar Council of the fact. If not informed, then, as a consequence, the license to practice as an advocate shall automatically lapse if they fail to notify the Bar Council or continue in such employment.
• The ‘employment’ spoken of by rule 49 does not cover the employment of an advocate who had been solely or, in any case, predominantly employed to act and/or plead on behalf of his client in Courts of Law.

Check: West Bengal judiciary cut-off 

Additional Requirements for West Bengal Judicial Services

Refer to the other additional requirements for the West Bengal Judicial Service Exam:

• Good Character - The candidate must have good character and suitability for appointment to Government service. 
• Physical Fitness - You must be physically and mentally fit for the service/post.
• Character Certificate—You must have a valid character certificate issued by the institute from where you have completed your LLB.

Check Out - West Bengal Judiciary Result

Required Documents

Candidates must have the following documents to be eligible for the examination:

A candidate claiming to be SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) or Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (40% and above) must have a certificate in support of his / her claim from a competent authority of West Bengal issued on or before the closing date of submission of application as specified below :

(a) For S.C., S.T. & O.B.C. (Non-Creamy Layer) Candidates:-

i) In the district, the Sub-Divisional Officer of the Sub-Division concerned, and 

ii) In Kolkata, the District Magistrate, South 24-Parganas or such Additional District Magistrate, South 24-Parganas, as may be authorised by the District Magistrate, South 24-Parganas, on this behalf and the District Welfare Officer, Kolkata and Ex-officio Joint Director, Backward Classes Welfare.

(iii) OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates must submit their renewed/revalidated OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificates before the interview and at the time of appointment. 

Check: Best Books for West Bengal Judiciary Exam

(b) For Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD):- 

(i) A medical board is constituted at government medical college hospitals in Kolkata, district hospitals, and subdivisional hospitals.

(ii) Certificate regarding Physical Limitation in an Examinee to write (Required for only those candidates who opt for Scribe and/Compensatory Time).

(2) The Public Service Commission may require further proof or particulars from the candidates as necessary and may make enquiries about their character and other particulars regarding suitability and eligibility. 

Also check: West Bengal Judiciary Question Papers

Seat Reservation in West Bengal Judicial Services

Reservation benefits for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates apply only to those from West Bengal. SC/ST/OBC candidates from other states will be treated as general candidates.

Conclusion

The West Bengal Judicial Service exam is a gateway to a prestigious career in the judiciary, overseen by the West Bengal Public Service Commission. Ensure you thoroughly understand the West Bengal Judiciary Eligibility Criteria before applying. Happy studying, and best of luck!