In Brief
In this interlocutory judgment on the Delhi Higher Judicial Service recruitment process, the Supreme Court modified its earlier orders regarding the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) channel for promotion to District Judge. The Court reduced the minimum qualifying service requirement from 10 years to 7 years (5 years as Civil Judge Junior Division and 2 years as Civil Judge Senior Division, or 10 years as Junior Division), recognizing the unique situation in Delhi where both grades perform identical duties with only pay scale differences. This modification aims to revive the original purpose of LDCE: providing incentives for junior judicial officers to excel and gain quicker promotion. The modification applies only to the Delhi Higher Judicial Service. Two interlocutory applications were allowed."
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