Rajasthan Judicial Service — District Judge Cadre Direct Recruitment from the Bar

Basic eligibility paths

• ✓Under Rule 31(3) of the Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010, 25 per cent of District Judge cadre posts are filled by direct recruitment from eligible advocates on the basis of a written examination and interview conducted by the High Court.
• ✓Rule 33 requires an LLB (Professional) recognised under the Advocates Act, 1961, at least seven years' standing as an Advocate on the last date for applications, and the age band of 35 to 45 years.
• ✓Rule 36 requires the applicant to furnish particulars of ten judgments from the preceding seven years, personally argued and not interlocutory, bail, compromise or withdrawal orders, with certified copies produced before the main examination, plus a character-and-practice certificate from the District Judge (or the Registrar of the High Court or Supreme Court where the applicant practises there).
• ✓Rule 33 also requires two good-character certificates written within six months of the last date, and a medical board's fitness certificate before appointment.
• ✓These are the standing service rules. Confirm the cut-off date, reservation and category rules in the official current-cycle notice.

Relaxations & certificates

• SC/ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations follow the applicable notification.
• Always check the certificate format and cut-off date in the official notice.

Selection stages

1. 1Objective preliminary examination of 150 multiple-choice questions in three hours — Schedule VII(a) of the Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010
2. 2Main examination of four subjective papers of 100 marks each, three hours per paper
3. 3Interview of 50 marks, added to the main examination marks
4. 4Merit list, medical fitness and appointment under the 2010 rules

Syllabus snapshot

• Preliminary examination syllabus is Schedule VIII of the rules: IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act (25 questions), CPC, Transfer of Property Act and Contract Act (25), Constitution of India (10), Specific Relief Act (5), NDPS Act (4), Limitation Act (3), Negotiable Instruments Act Chapter XVII (3), Rajasthan Land Revenue Act 1956 (5), Rajasthan Rent Control Act 2001 (5), Hindu law statutes (7), SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 (3), Motor Vehicles Act Chapters X–XII (4), Rajasthan court-fees, registration and stamp statutes (6), General Knowledge (15), Legal Maxims (5), Medical Jurisprudence (5), Landmark Judgments (10) and Language in Hindi and English (10) — 150 marks in all.
• Main examination papers I to III carry 100 marks each with a minimum of 45 marks (40 for SC and ST candidates), and Paper-IV carries 100 marks with a minimum of 36; the detailed syllabus is Schedule IX of the rules.
• The interview of 50 marks also tests proficiency in Rajasthani dialects and knowledge of the social customs of Rajasthan.
• Use the official current-cycle scheme and syllabus when it is published.