Case Title: – REJANISH K.V. vs. K. DEEPA [Civil Appeal No(s). 3947/2020] and other connected matters
Date :- 23.09.2025
The Supreme Court began its Constitution Bench hearing on the issue of whether a judicial officer, who has already completed 7 years in the Bar, is entitled to be appointed as a District Judge against a Bar vacancy.
The Hon’ble Court would be focused on the issue related to the interpretation of Article 233(2) of the Constitution which prescribes that a person, who is not already in the service of Union or the State, can be appointed as a District Judge only if he has been for not less than seven years an advocate or a pleader.
The 5-judge bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justices MM Sundresh, Aravind Kumar, SC Sharma and K Vinod Chandran considered the matter.
The following issues has been proposed by the Petitioner:
- Whether a judicial officer who has already completed seven years in Bar being recruited for subordinate judicial services would be entitled for appointment as Additional District Judge against the Bar vacancy?
- Whether the eligibility for appointment as a District Judge is to be seen only at the time of appointment or at the time of application or both?
- Whether there is an eligibility prescribed for the persons already in the judicial services of the Union or State under Article 233(2) of the Constitution of India for being appointed as the district judge
- A person who has been a judge for 7 years or has been an advocate and a civil judge for a combined period of 7 years or more could be appointed as a district judge?
