A bench of Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice August George Masih and Justice K. Vinod Chandran has reserved judgment after hearing a batch of review petitions clubbed with the writ petition filed by Bhumika Trust, which seeks relaxation of the mandatory three-year practice requirement for persons with disabilities.

 The writ Petition filed on 14-11-2025 by Bhumika Trust, prayed for following reliefs as mentioned hereinbelow-

 “a. Issue an appropriate writ order or direction in nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, thereby declaring order, and declaring the application of the mandatory three-year practice requirement for appointment to the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division), as upheld in the judgment dated 20.05.2025 in All India Judges Association v. Union of India, All India Judges Association & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., (2025) INSC 735, W.P. (C) No. 1022 of 1989 to be unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution of India, insofar as it applies to persons with benchmark disabilities.

 b. Issue an appropriate writ order or direction in nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ , thereby direct the respondents to frame a comprehensive policy on reasonable accommodation for persons with benchmark disabilities in judicial service recruitment, in compliance with Sections 3, 20, 32, 33, and 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, including but not limited to:

i. Provide exemption from or alternate requirements in place of the mandatory three-year practice rule to avoid indirect discrimination against persons with disabilities, ensuring fair access to judicial recruitment.

ii. Conduct all judicial service examinations and interviews in accessible formats, including screen reader compatibility for visually impaired candidates, provision of sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired, scribes for those with writing difficulties, and any other necessary accommodations to enable full participation.

iii. Judicial academies must develop and implement training materials and methods tailored to the specific accessibility needs of persons with benchmark disabilities, such as accessible digital content and inclusive teaching practices.

iv. Ensure provision of necessary assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, hearing aids), accessible physical infrastructure (ramps, elevators, accessible toilets), and reasonable support services during judicial training and throughout the tenure of service.

v. Provide continuous reasonable support, such as interpreters, scribes, and personal assistance during both training and judicial service to enable effective and dignified participation These measures are essential to eliminate systemic exclusion and to uphold the constitutional rights to equality, non-discrimination, and dignity under Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution of India, ensuring the judicial service recruitment process is inclusive, accessible, and equitable for persons with benchmark disabilities.

c. Issue an appropriate writ order or direction in nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, thereby direct the appropriate respondents to identify job positions vacant and all backlogs in various departments in Indian judiciary that can be suitably held by persons with benchmark disabilities for the purpose of filling reserved vacancies as mandated under Section 33 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. This includes constituting an expert committee, which must include representation from persons with benchmark disabilities, to assist in identifying these suitable posts. Further, the Government should undertake a periodic review of the identified posts at intervals not exceeding three years to ensure that these positions remain appropriate, accessible, and equitable for persons with disabilities, thereby promoting inclusive and fair employment opportunities in public services.

d. Issue an appropriate writ order or direction in nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, thereby declare that the failure to provide reasonable accommodation in judicial appointments amounts to systemic exclusion of persons with disabilities and violates their constitutionally protected rights to equality, non-discrimination, and dignity under Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution of India.”

The review petitions challenged the Supreme Court’s judgment dated 20-05-2025, whereby the Court mandated a minimum of three years’ legal practice as pre-requisite eligibility condition for candidates seeking direct recruitment to the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) after obtaining a law degree.

Among the review petitions, one was filed on 16-06-2025 by Chandrasen Yadav, through Advocate-on-Record Kunal Yadav. In addition to seeking a review of the judgment dated 20 May 2025, the petitioner also proposed an alternative remedy in the form of a “cooling-off period.” It was contended that such a transitional arrangement would mitigate the immediate hardship caused by the newly introduced eligibility criterion.

The bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice August George Masih and Justice K. Vinod Chandran in above Review Petition having diary number 33086 of 2025  [Review Petition number 420/2026] with another Review petition Diary number 30163 of 2025 [Review Petition number 421/2026] after perusing the record available in these review petitions allowed the Application for permission to file Review Petitions and listed the review petitions in the open court and allowed oral hearing.

On 28-07-2026 the Bench heard extensive submissions from various counsels, intervenors, and the Amicus Curiae before reserving the judgment.

Before Starting the deliberations on the issue counsel of Maharashtra Public Service Commission put up the point that they have already notified 286 posts for the civil judge junior division and they are facing hardship in starting the selection process because of the interim order which had stalled the selection process nationwide.  

Mr. Jayant Singh Raghav appearing in person on behalf of Bhumika trust, Writ Petition contended that he has compiled some suggestions in the form of written submissions and presented before the court.

The review petitioner Chandrasen Yadav was represented by Sr. Advocate Pinky Anand in the Review Petition number 420/2026. During Arguments she not only highlighted the grounds why the judgement dated 20-05-2025 must be reviewed but also suggested few recommendations

Grounds taken by Sr. Advocate Pinky Anand on behalf of review petitioner Chandrasen yadav is mentioned hereinbelow –

1.  Absence of Empirical Data: No empirical or statistical evidence has been provided to justify the claim that fresh law graduates perform inadequately as judges, making the basis of the restriction speculative and arbitrary.
2. Financial and Institutional Barriers: The judgment fails to account for the lack of financial and institutional support available to first-generation lawyers and students from economically weaker sections, who cannot afford to spend three unpaid years in litigation practice before becoming eligible.
3. Lack of Structured Mentorship: No mechanism has been proposed for how fresh law graduates will secure practical training or mentorship during the mandated three-year practice period.
4. Impugned judgment does not provide a transition clause and affects students retrospectively even those who were previously eligible.
5. Disproportionate Impact on Women candidates and Marginalized Groups: The rule disproportionately affects Women candidates and students from socially and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, including SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories and, many of whom aspire to judiciary as a means of social mobility and justice.
6. Disregard for Institutional Training: The judgment fails to appreciate the structured and institutional training imparted during LL.B. courses and the mandatory training provided post-selection by State Judicial Academies.
7. Neglect of Shetty Commission Report: The decision erroneously ignores the findings and recommendations of the Shetty Commission, particularly paragraphs 8.31, 8.34, and 8.35, which emphasize the sufficiency of post-selection training over prior practice.
8. Violation of Fundamental Rights: The judgment infringes upon the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 (equality before the law), 16 (equal opportunity in public employment), and 19(1)(g) (freedom to practice any profession), especially for law graduates who had fulfilled the eligibility criteria prevailing at the time of their education.
   • Suggestions provided by Sr. Advocate Pinky Anand on behalf of review petitioner Chandrasen yadav is mentioned hereinbelow –

1. Replace the mandatory pre-recruitment three-year practice requirement with structured post-selection training.

Instead of insisting on three years of Bar practice before recruitment, selected candidates should receive supervised practical training during their induction period.

• Introduce a judicial apprenticeship model.

Newly selected Civil Judges should be attached to District Judges as apprentices, law clerks, or judges-in-training to gain practical exposure to judicial administration, legal reasoning, ethics, and courtroom management.

• Provide structured exposure in advocates’ chambers.

During training, judicial recruits may be attached to designated Senior Advocates, Government Pleaders, Advocate Generals, Standing Counsel, or Legal Aid Defence Counsel under NALSA’s LADC Scheme to obtain meaningful litigation experience.

• Adopt international best practices.

Consider a model similar to Germany, where judicial aspirants undergo a structured preparatory training programme across courts, prosecution offices, administrative authorities, and law offices instead of relying solely on independent Bar practice.

• Create a uniform national induction curriculum.

Standardize judicial training across all State Judicial Academies through the National Judicial Academy or a permanent committee headed by the Chief Justice of India to ensure consistent quality and practical orientation.

• Strengthen practical legal education during law school.

Introduce optional structured six-month practice modules and specialized judicial-track courses within LL.B. programmes to equip aspiring judges with practical skills before recruitment.

• Promote continuous judicial education.

Encourage lifelong professional development through scholarships for higher legal studies, exchange programmes, deputations, and periodic training linked to career advancement and elevation.

• Grant a transitional (“cooling-off”) period.

Instead of immediate implementation of the three-year practice requirement, provide a transitional window for candidates who had legitimately prepared under the previous eligibility criteria so that they are not rendered ineligible overnight.

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for review petitioner Jaideep Subudhi, urged the Supreme Court to adopt experiential learning models in place of a rigid pre-recruitment litigation requirement. He advocated for structured legal aid work, judicial clerkships, internships, and continuous judicial training as more effective alternatives to the mandatory three-year Bar practice requirement.

Drawing the Court’s attention to the views of National Law Universities (NLUs) and other premier law institutions, Gonsalves submitted that they had overwhelmingly opposed the three-year litigation mandate. He argued that such a requirement would discourage meritorious law graduates from joining the judicial service, pointing out that only around 20% of graduates from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) pursue active litigation. He further submitted that the requirement could aggravate the existing shortage of judicial officers by making entry into the subordinate judiciary less attractive.

Questioning the procedural correctness of the judgment dated 20 May 2025, Gonsalves argued that a three-Judge Bench could not have effectively overruled an earlier decision of a coordinate three-Judge Bench without referring the issue to a larger Bench.

Addressing the Court, he submitted:

“The suggestion made here is experiential learning… judges who are taken from day one through legal aid, clerkship, and internship-based models, continuous evaluation, accountable mechanisms, and holistic, evolving judicial training. The NLUs and leading law colleges have emphatically opposed the three-year rule… Only 20% of NLSIU graduates are entering law practice.”

Special provisions were also proposed for persons with disabilities, including limiting the mandatory practice requirement to one year—preferably after selection—and recognising judicial clerkships and research assignments as equivalent forms of practical legal experience until accessible judicial infrastructure is fully developed.

Appearing as Amicus Curiae, Senior Advocate Siddharth Bhatnagar also favoured a staggered implementation if the Court ultimately retained the three-year eligibility criterion. He suggested permitting fresh law graduates to participate in the 2026 judicial service examinations while progressively increasing the practice requirement—from zero years in 2026, one year in 2027, two years in 2028, and three years from 2029 onwards.

Referring to applications seeking relaxation of the upper age limit due to delayed recruitment cycles, Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that age-related relief may require consideration before the Court reserved judgment. Bhatnagar further suggested that concessions such as lower qualifying marks could be considered for women and persons with disabilities and recommended that judicial clerkships be recognised towards the prescribed legal practice requirement.

Case Title:

Writ Petition –

All India Judges Association v. Union of India (W.P. (C) No. 1110/2025)

&

Review Petition –

Chandrasen Yadav Vs. Union Of India & Ors. [ RP(C) 420/2026]

Falguni Mittal Vs. Union of India & Ors. Jaideep Subudhi Vs.Union Of India & Ors etc.