New Delhi, Oct. 10 -- In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court Constitution Bench today held that a judicial officer with a combined experience of seven years as a judicial officer and an advocate is eligible to apply for direct appointment as a District Judge.
The Bench clarified that the eligibility must be determined on the date of application, and to ensure a level playing field, in-service candidates must be at least 35 years of age at the time of applying.
Overruling its earlier judgment in Dheeraj Mor v. High Court of Delhi (2020), the Court held that in-service judicial officers cannot be excluded from applying for direct recruitment as District Judges.
However, the ruling will apply prospectively and will not affect any recruitme...