The Supreme Court has put the brakes on Gujarat’s ongoing recruitment process for Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) and Civil Judges, raising concerns over the absence of a minimum law practice requirement.
A bench halted the selection process, pointing out that the eligibility criteria for appointing judges—specifically the necessity of prior legal practice—is still under scrutiny by a three-judge panel at the top court. The judges questioned the urgency of moving ahead with the recruitment while the matter remains unresolved.
“When the Court is already examining this issue, we see no reason for the selection process to proceed, as the final ruling will directly impact the qualifications required for these judicial positions,” the bench stated.
A notice has been issued to the Gujarat High Court and the state government, with further hearings scheduled for March 18.
The preliminary exams for the vacancies were set to take place this month, based on an advertisement that did not mandate a minimum period of legal practice for applicants—something now in question as the Supreme Court steps in to reassess the rules.
