SC Says 3-Year Practice Rule Won’t Apply to 2022 MP Civil Judge Recruitment

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Civil Judge (Junior Division – Entry Level) Recruitment 2022 in Madhya Pradesh will proceed under the old rules. This means that the new conditions introduced in 2023—requiring three years of continuous practice or 70% marks in LL.B. in a single attempt—will not apply to the 2022 recruitment process.

A Bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice AS Chandurkar allowed an appeal against the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s June 13, 2024 order, which had directed disqualification of candidates who cleared the preliminary exam but did not meet the amended criteria.

The Court set aside the High Court’s order, stating that the recruitment must continue as per the unamended Madhya Pradesh Judicial Service (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1994.

The 2023 amendment had required civil judge aspirants to either have three years of continuous practice as an advocate or to qualify as “outstanding law graduates” by passing all exams in one attempt with at least 70% marks (50% for SC/ST candidates).

These rules were challenged in the High Court, and while the exams went ahead provisionally, multiple petitions created uncertainty over the process. The High Court had even ordered fresh evaluations and mains exams, halting recruitment midway. The Supreme Court had stayed that decision in September last year and has now finally cleared the way for the recruitment to move forward under the old eligibility rules.

The detailed judgment is awaited.

Case Title: High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Anr. v. Jyotsna Dohalia and Anr.
Case No.: SLP (C) No. 21353/2024