In Brief
In this landmark 2025 judgment, the Supreme Court reformed judicial recruitment and promotion rules to strengthen the subordinate judiciary through merit and experience. The Court restored the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) quota from 10% to 25% for District Judge promotions, reduced minimum service requirements from 5 to 3 years as Civil Judge (Senior Division), and created a new 10% LDCE-based promotion quota from Civil Judge (Junior Division). The Court also mandated suitability tests for merit-cum-seniority promotions and reinstated the 3-year minimum Bar practice requirement for entry-level judges, with practice counted from provisional Bar Council enrolment. These reforms aim to ensure judicial officers possess maturity, practical courtroom experience, and competence before assuming judicial office.
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