The Delhi Judicial Services (DJS) examination, conducted by the Delhi High Court, for the recruitment of subordinate judiciary or civil judges. They are entry-level assessment exams to recruit law graduates as members of the state judiciary. The examination is conducted in three phases viz. Preliminary (objective-type), Mains (written), and the personal interview round.
Several amendments have been introduced in the Delhi Judicial Services (DJS) recruitment process this year in segments such as the selection procedure, eligibility criteria, syllabus, etc. These changes will be applicable on and after February 9, 2022. Some of these alterations are listed below.
- The Selection Committee will now include the Registrar General as the ex-officio rather than the Registrar of the High Court. The quorum of the committee has to be maintained compulsorily.
- Prelims exam will serve as the qualifying criteria for the Mains exam. Applicants will have to appear for the prelims, after qualifying which they will appear for the Mains exams. The candidates who qualify Mains will appear for the Interview round. The exams will be conducted yearly instead of twice a year.
- The age of the candidate should be not more than 32. The age will be considered from the year of the invitation or appointment, rather than the date when the examination begins.
- The candidates who are finally selected have to begin their services within one month of the notification of their appointment. However, the date of joining can be extended by 2 months if sufficient justification is provided. If the appointee fails to do so, their candidature will lapse.
- The legal knowledge of the candidate will be assessed rather than simply their general knowledge. There are several changes expansions made in the syllabus, especially in the subjects of Civil Law and Criminal Law.
- If there are candidates who score marks equal to the marks obtained by the last candidate who was shortlisted for the written (Mains) exam, then all such candidates will be shortlisted for the Mains examination too, even when the number of qualified candidates far exceeds the number of vacancies.
- The marks obtained in the interview round will be added to the marks secured in the Mains examination. The qualification of the candidates will now be calculated as an aggregate of both levels.
For recruitment in Lower Judiciary Services, candidates need to be enrolled as an Advocate, in reference to the Advocate’s Act, 1961. Final year students can also apply, hence, experience is not mandatory. However, for Higher Judiciary Services, candidates must be graduate in law and possess some experience as a litigating official. The recruitment process tentatively begins in the month of August and concludes in September. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the dates are likely to be rescheduled. Candidates are advised to keep a track of the ‘general notices’ and ‘open positions’ sections of delhihighcourt.nic.in for further updates.
