Judicial Career Progression Uneven: Supreme Court Deliberates on National Seniority Criteria

The Supreme Court of India commenced hearings to examine uneven career paths for entry-level judicial officers. Led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, the bench is working on a uniform criteria for seniority in the Higher Judicial Service, recognizing that many junior officers never advance to senior positions like Principal District Judge.

Senior advocate Sidharth Bhatnagar highlighted flaws in the promotion process, where seniority often outweighs merit. The discrepancy impacts promotee judges, who, despite decades of experience, find limited elevation opportunities, hindered further by the way Annual Confidential Reports are assessed.

The discussion also involves whether a balanced 1:1 ratio between promotee and direct recruit judges should be implemented at higher levels. Concerns were raised about potential cadre stratification and age disparities between groups, as well as limited prospects for officers entering through competitive examinations.