The Lieutenant Governor of NCT of Delhi in consultation with the High Court of Delhi notified Delhi Judicial Service (Amendment) Rules, 2022 to amend the Delhi Judicial Service Rules, 1970:
Key Amendment:
- Rule 7 has been modified to include a proviso providing that the quorum for any meeting of the Selection Committee.
Amendment:
For purposes of recruitment to the service there shall be a Selection Committee consisting of the following: –
(1) Chief Justice or a Judge of the High Court deputed by him.
(2) Two Judges of the High Court nominated by the Chief Justice.
(3) Chief Secretary, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
(4) A Secretary of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi nominated by the Administrator.
Provided that the quorum for any meeting of the Selection Committee.
The Registrar General of the High Court shall be the ex–officio Secretary of the Committee.
- Rule 13 has been modified to provide the recruitment process.
Amendment:
Recruitment after the initial recruitment shall be made on the basis of a competitive examination comprising of a Preliminary objective type Examination for selection for the Mains Examination (Written), Mains Examination (Written) and Interview/ Viva Voce. The Examination will be held by the High Court in Delhi, preferably once a year, subject to vacancy position. The Administrator shall be kept informed about the dates and place of such examination.
- Rule 14 has been modified to include the eligibility criteria where the candidate is not more than 32 years of age on the 1st day of January of the year in which the applications for appointment are invited.
Amendment:
A candidate shall be eligible to appear at the examination, if he is: –
a) a citizen of India;
b) a person practising as an Advocate in India or a person qualified to be admitted as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961; and
c) not more than 32 years of age on the 1st day of January of the year in which the applications for appointment are invited.
- Rule 15 has been modified to provide that the Syllabus for the Examination and the Scheme governing the conduct of the Examination must be as detailed in the Appendix to these Rules.
- Rule 18 has been modified and states:
-
- The Selection Committee shall prepare a list of candidates in order of merit on the basis of competitive examination held in accordance with the Rules. Such list will be forwarded to the Administrator.
- The Administrator may in consultation with the High Court, make appointment in substantive, officiating or temporary vacancies from amongst those who stand highest in order of merit.
- All selected candidates shall join the service within a period of one month from the date of issuance of notification of appointment by the competent authority.
- Upon sufficient justification, the competent authority i.e. the High Court may extend the above-mentioned period of one month for joining service on a written application made by the candidate concerned. Such extension, if granted, shall be for a period of two months only. Extension of period of joining beyond this period may be granted by the High Court in rare and exceptional circumstances but in no case shall such further extension be granted for a period of more than six months from the date of issuance of notification of appointment.
- Upon failure of the selected candidate to join service either within one month of the date of notification of appointment or upon expiry of such extended period as may be granted by the High Court, the appointment of the selected candidate shall lapse.
- The vacancy so created by virtue of clause (v) above may be offered to the next candidate, as per order of merit in the select list unless for reasons to be recorded in writing, it is not so deemed apposite.
- The Select List prepared for all categories of officials shall be valid till the next Select List is published.
- The Clauses (iii) to (v) of this Rule shall form part of the notification of appointment of the selected candidates.