The judiciary exam or the PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service-Judicial Examination is the entry-level exam for law graduates to become appointed as members of the subordinate judiciary. The members are appointed by the state government under the supervision of the respective high court based on the Judiciary exam. For those with an inclination towards public service and/or the trappings of state authority, the judiciary can be a worthwhile option. Not only is it a way to remain closely connected with the law throughout your professional life, but also one that offers the satisfaction of working for the good of society.
Every High Court has under its supervision the members of the subordinate judiciary of the state(s) over which this High Court has jurisdiction. Members of the subordinate judiciary (popularly known as the judicial service or the PCS (J)-Provincial Civil Service-Judicial) occupy the offices of the presiding officers of various courts right up to the post of District Judge.
There are several attractive features of these judicial services including handsome perks and privileges which include among others: rent-free accommodation, fuel allowances, subsidized electricity and water supplies, telephone allowances, and bursaries for children's education. These are significantly better than those of civil service officers. Add to this the increased remuneration structures of the 6th Pay Commission and you've got a highly rewarding job on your hands and the best part is yet to come. Unlike administrators or police officers, judicial officers almost always have postings in district headquarters so they never have to serve in remote areas. This allows them to have a reasonably enjoyable lifestyle too.
The judicial services offer entry at two levels:
Lower Judiciary Services
Higher Judiciary Services
The Judicial Services exam is divided into three stages:
Preliminary Examination
The exam comprises objective-type questions. It only serves the purpose of screening candidates before they appear for mains. The marks secured by a candidate in this section are not considered for the final selection. Category-wise minimum qualifying Percentage:
Category |
Qualifying percentage |
General |
60% |
Reserved categories |
55% |
Mains
The section of the exam is subjective. It mainly comprises 3-4 papers. The marks scored in this section are considered for the final selection.
Viva-Voce/Interview
This is the final stage of the selection procedure. At this stage, candidates are assessed based on their general interest, intelligence, personality, etc.
The syllabus for the judiciary exam varies from state to state. It is broadly divided into
The weightage given to the language paper is around 20 percent to 35 percent. The main
examination constitutes six to seven papers and almost 70 percent of the questions are of
law. Judicial service is a worthwhile option for those who aim to serve the public with high
social esteem. It offers a secure and safe career with a comfortable compensation package.
You must consider before you take the plunge into the judicial service, that the chances of
a member of the lower judiciary making his way all the way up the ladder are rather remote.
Hence if you harbor dreams of becoming a Supreme Court judge someday then this may not be
the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you want a secure and safe career and wish
to be in public service, albeit with a comfortable compensation package instead of the
vagaries of litigation, then the judicial services may well be the right choice for you.
Keep Learning!
Team LST.