Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court has decided to examine the issue of lack of promotional avenues for the entry-level posts in the judicial service, which is dissuading many bright young lawyers from joining service at the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division).

The issue was raised by Senior Advocate Siddharth Bhatnagar, the amicus curiae in the All India Judges Association case. He highlighted an "anomalous situation" in many States, where Judicial Officers recruited as Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) often do not reach even the level of the Principal District Judge, leave aside reaching the position of the High Court Judge.

He put forth a proposal to reserve a certain percentage of posts from the cadre of Principal District Judges for the promotion of Judges selected initially from the JMFC Cadre.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, terming this as an "important issue", agreed to examine this in detail.

The bench issued notice to the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all the States/Union Territories and to the Registrar Generals of all the High Courts.

The States and the High Courts were directed to file their responses with an advance copy to the Amicus Curiae on or before 01.10.2025.

The matter will be considered on October 7, 2025.

Case : All India Judges Association v Union of India | WP(c) 1022/1989