In Brief
The Bihar government sought to introduce reservations for backward classes in judicial services in 2009, but the High Court quashed the amendments, finding inadequate consultation with the High Court as required by the Constitution. The Supreme Court confirmed this finding but addressed the practical problem of 25-year delay and 406 vacant judicial posts. The Court held that while the invalidated rules were unconstitutional, candidates selected under the 2012 recruitment shall be appointed against subsequent vacancies. It also prescribed a procedure requiring proper consultation between the State and High Court, with detailed exchange of material on representation and appropriate percentage of reservation before rules are framed.
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