How's life after cracking the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination?

The Rajasthan High Court oversees the recruitment for the Rajasthan Judicial Services. Applications have been invited for the recruitment of Civil Judges through Rajasthan Judiciary Exam 2021. A total of 31 civil judges vacancies are going to be filled in Rajasthan High Court this year. The exam will be carried out in three stages – Prelims, Mains, and the Personal Interview. 

What is the career growth offered to Civil Judges selected through Rajasthan Judiciary Exam 2021?

The Rajasthan Judiciary system offers a great career path to the candidates getting selected from Rajasthan Judicial Services Exam 2021. Various profiles are available under judicial services such as Oath Commissioner, Magistrate, District and Sessions Judge, Sub-Magistrate, etc. The career path of the candidate selected from the Rajasthan Judiciary Exam will look like this:

Rajasthan Judiciary System has a High Court in Jodhpur and a bench at Jaipur. The state of Rajasthan has 35 Judgeships comprising of 388 courts of district judge cadre, 319 courts of Senior Division – Civil Judge, and 438 courts of Junior Division - Civil Judge cadre. 

Civil Judge – Junior Division: The candidates who clear the Rajasthan Judiciary Exam will be absorbed as Civil Judge – Junior Division. A Civil Judge at Junior Division takes the responsibility of the lowest level of court and decides the civil cases of small financial stake. Newly recruited candidates undergo mandatory training under the aegis of the judicial academy that lasts for 11 to 12 months.

Salary of a Civil Judge – Junior Division: Civil Judges get a basic salary of INR 27700/- along with Dearness Allowance, medical, and other benefits. During the training period the in hand salary, after deduction, comes to approx. INR 70,000 per month. After training, the civil judge gets entitlement for city allowance, HRA, Entertainment Allowance, and other benefits, making the net take home at INR 75000.

Civil Judge – Senior Division: There are two ways of promotion to the Senior Division –regular promotion and accelerated rise. Promotion is provided based on several years in the service, evaluation of judgments, departmental proceedings, if any, character/integrity, vigilance report, and many others. The civil judges are also being judged on other judicial work, such as administrative work performed by the judge during the tenure. Average tenure took to get promoted around fifteen years unless the civil judge gets an accelerated promotion.

Salary of a Civil Judge – Senior Division: The salary of a Civil Judge in Senior Division after Assured Career Progression comes in the range of INR 111000 to 163020. Further, after 1st and 2nd assured career progressions goes in the range of INR 144840 to 194680.

District Judge: District Judges are appointed either based on merit-cum-seniority or promotion based on merit through competitive exams held among civil judges of the senior division. Regular promotion accounts for 65 percent of total strength, followed by 10 percent from accelerated promotion. Rest 25 percent comes from direct recruitment from advocates at the bar with a minimum of seven years of practice.

Salary of a District Judge: The District Judge is a senior post and is entitled to a salary in the range of INR 163030 to INR 219090. After five years of entry grade, the judge gets a super time scale of INR 199100 to INR 224100. 

Q: How are promotions happening in Rajasthan Judiciary System?

Hard work in the judiciary, like anywhere else, is rewarded handsomely in the judiciary system of Rajasthan. The Rajasthan High Court has already set up criteria for promoting judges from junior level to the District judge. There are three modes under which the rise happens under the Rajasthan Judiciary System:

Regular Promotion: At least 65% of the Promotions from the quota of District Judges are taking place based on merit-cum-seniority from Civil Judges. The following points are taken into consideration for performance appraisal:

1. Number of Years in Services.
2. Evaluation of Judgments
3. Disciplinary Proceedings (if any)
4. Vigilance Reports (if required)
5. Administrative functions performed

Accelerated Promotion: The second method is through merit-based competitive examinations held among civil judges. All civil judges having five years of work experience are asked to appear for the exam. This promotion method accounts for 10% of the sanctioned strength for District Judge.

1. Direct Recruitment: Elite advocates from the bar having at least seven years of practice are directly recruited for the post of District Judge.

Great regard is paid to the skills acquired by the judges over time in promotional activities. These are divided into the following categories:

1. Judicial Skills: Civil judges must have a thorough procedural knowledge of laws and fundamental legal practices. 

1. Administrative Skills: Time Management, Board Management, Registry Management, Bar Management, and Self-management are the essential skills.

1. Judicial Ethics: Integrity & Honesty, Humility, Impartiality, and Judicial Inter-dependence should be cultivated by the Civil Judges.