Judicial Services Exam – Eligibility, Pattern, and Other Details
Judicial Services Exam 2020: Commonly known as the PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service-Judicial Exam are entry-level tests for law graduates to become a member of the subordinate judiciary. These exams are conducted by a state judicial department to hire for subordinate judicial services.
The exams focus on Indian legal and constitutional governance and history, current developments of national and international interest, and analytical aptitude and skills of the candidate. Roughly 50,000 to 60,000 aspirants apply for Judicial Services Examination each year with barely 15% – 20% approximately clearing the exam.
Judicial Services Exam 2020: All You Need To Know
Judiciary services can be a worthwhile option for many applicants who want to build a career in public service or the workings of the state authority. Let s have a look at the various job roles that an applicant can take after appearing and clearing the Judicial Services exam.
- Magistrate
- District and Sessions Judge
- Sub-Magistrate
- Public Prosecutor
- Attorney General
- Solicitors
- Advocate General
- Notary
- Oath Commissioner
Qualified applicants of Law Service Commission or State Public Service Commission are also eligible for appointment as Magistrate and Sub Magistrate.
Judicial Service Exam 2020 – Eligibility Criteria
The judicial services have two entry levels, the details about the same are given in the table below:
| Type of Services | Education Qualification | Experience | Age (May differ from State to State) | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Judiciary Services | Must hold an LL.B degree from a recognised institution and must have enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates Act 1961 with membership in the state bar council. | No experience is required and final year applicants can also give the exam. | Between 21 to 35 years. | Must be a citizen of India. |
| Higher Judiciary Services | Must hold an LL.B degree from a recognised institution. | Must have a minimum of seven years of litigating practice. | Between 21 to 35 years. | Must be a citizen of India. |
Judicial Service Exam Pattern
Judicial Services exams are conducted in three stages:
|
Factors
|
Preliminary Examination | Mains Examination | Viva-Voce/Personal Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Type | Comprises of objective type questions, and acts as a screening test for the Mains exam. | The Mains is a subjective type examination, which comprises of three to four papers. | Candidates are evaluated based on general knowledge, personality and aptitude among other determinants. |
| Qualifying Marks For General & SC/ST Categories | The minimum qualifying marks vary from State to State. | The minimum qualifying marks vary from State to State. | This round carries a maximum of 50 marks out of which the candidate needs to score at least 20 marks to get selected. |
| Evaluation Criteria | The marks are not be calculated for preparing the final merit list. | The marks secured by applicants are counted for the final selection | The final step of selection to become a Judge. |
States Conducting Judicial Services Exam
In India, a total of 24 states conduct the Judicial Services exam with each state having their own set of eligibility criteria, exam pattern, recruitment process, and pay scale. The states are listed below:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Delhi
- Himachal Pradesh
- Haryana
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Uttarakhand
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
Tips & Tricks to Prepare for Judicial Services Exam 2020
Candidates must be willing to put in the effort that is required to clear the exams efficiently. Let s take a look at some of the ways applicants can prepare themselves.
- The primary step for the preparation of the Judicial Services Exam includes the motivation to become a Judicial Officer. It is important to stay consistent and develop a systematic preparation strategy that includes a well-planned timetable coupled with discipline.
- Each stage of the examination demands a distinct approach for its preparation. For the Preliminary Test, candidates require intensive and exhaustive knowledge in areas such as provisions, illustrations, the period of limitation, period/time-limits, etc., while the Written Test requires a selective study pattern based on the frequently asked questions. A candidate can plan for this by studying and solving previous years’ questions.
- If you know a Judicial Officer or someone who has recently been selected and delegated in the State, seek their input and guidance, which can be very helpful and critical in the direction of your preparation.
- Practice previous years model question papers of the different examinations conducted by the various High Courts and Public Service Commissions for developing and mastering the time-management skill. This also comes handy for understanding the exam pattern and working towards it accordingly.
- Routinely visit the State High Court and its subordinate court websites for writing and practicing ideas on Orders/Judgments and drafting of Charge and Issues.
- For Legal General Knowledge, read journals, newspapers, and reports presented by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the Hon’ble High Courts. Candidates can also study recognized books for obtaining information about legal general knowledge and general knowledge.
Work Range For A Judge
The judicial system consists of five hierarchies mainly the Supreme Court, High Court, District Court, Magistrate court, and Munsiff court. Judges are assigned to the level of court according to the qualification required for that particular court department. Many Judges and magistrates operate in chambers (private offices), courtrooms and/or law libraries. The work involves reading legal briefs and proposals, researching legal issues, holding hearings with lawyers, and lastly composing the judgment.
The responsibility of the Judges differs depending on their jurisdictions and laws. The key responsibilities and role of the Judge are as follows:
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- Establish laws and implement rules of procedure
- Preside over trials or hearings to conduct them justly
- Advise litigants, attorney, or court personnel concerning the issues, conduct, and proceedings of a case
- Settle disputes between defending attorneys
- Listen to attorney-at-law performing their cases, allegations made by plaintiffs and hear all the witnesses
- Read documents on motions and pleadings to ascertain facts and arguments.
- Discover the evidence presented by the defense and the prosecution to determine if the evidence confirms the charges
- Evaluate the evidence to decide whether the accused individual is innocent or guilty in accordance with the law
- In the case of civil trials, Judges decide whether a petition is legitimate and estimates the damage, and grants an order of compensation to the plaintiff unless a jury has been impaneled to give the decision.
- In the case of criminal trials, the Judge determines whether to hold offenders in prison pending trial or set bail and other requirements for release
- In case the accused is convicted, then the Judge declares the sentence. The Judge may impose a fine, send the person to jail or both, depending on what the constitution prescribes
The Munsif/Sub-Judge deals with civil cases while the Magistrate deals with criminal cases. These officers can be promoted to District and Sessions Judge based on their seniority and skills. They can further be promoted to the office of a Judge of the SC or the HC. Previously, District and Sessions Judges were promoted from those currently in service, but now in most of the states, they are being selected through competitive exams conducted by State Commissions.
Career In The Judiciary System
The Constitution of India has a three-tier judicial system, which comprises the Supreme Court of India, the High Courts in different states and the Subordinate Courts. Thus, the constitution of India requires the appointment of Judges at all these three levels. Let s take a closer look at the hierarchy of the Judges.
Supreme Court (SC)
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial system and the ultimate court of appeal under the Constitution of India. The SC of India includes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and 30 Additional Judges. Chief Justice is the senior-most and highest-ranking Judge in the Supreme Court of India and holds the most prominent judicial position. The President appoints the Chief Justice of India after consulting with other Judges of the SC and High Courts.
The Judges of SC retain their position till the age of 65 years.
High Court (HC)
The President of India appoints every HC Judge by consulting with the CJI, the Chief Justice of the HC, and the Governor of the state. The President consults with the Governor and the CJI for electing the Chief Justice of the HC. The number of Judges in the court is determined by two factors; dividing the average institutions of chief cases during the last five years by the national average, or the average rate of distribution of the cases per Judge per year in that HC, whichever is higher.
The Judges of the High Courts retain their position till the age of 62 years.
District Court
Each state is split into judicial districts governed by a District and Sessions Judge. When presiding over a civil case, a Judge is called a District Judge and in the event of a criminal case, he/she is called a Sessions Judge. He/she is the highest judicial authority after an HC Judge. There may be Assistant District Judges and Additional District Judges depending on the workload. The Judges of District Courts are elected by the Governor after review with the Chief Justice of the HC of the concerned state. The necessary eligibility to become a District Judge is minimum seven years of practice as a pleader or an advocate.
Magistrates/Munsiff
Magistrates/Munsiff are elected by the Central or State Government in deliberation with the Chief Justice of the HC of the concerned State.
