All India Judicial Service

All India Judicial Service

Syllabus: General Studies II- Polity and Governance

Sub-topic:

• Constitutional Framework: AIJS and Article 312.
• Separation of Powers: Implications on Judiciary Independence.
• National Judicial Commission: Oversight in AIJS Recruitment

Tags:
#AllIndiaJudicialService #AIJS #JudicialReforms #LegalSystem #UPSC #LawCommission #JudicialOfficers #ConstitutionalFramework #LegalEducation #JudiciaryIndependence #MeritBasedSelection #CasePendency #Representation #Transparency #JudicialStandards

Why in the News?

The proposal for the creation of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) has re-gained attention, with President Droupadi Murmu suggesting the need for the judicial service during the Constitution Day celebrations.

Historical Perspective:

Need for AIJS:

The pressing issues prompting the consideration of AIJS include:

1. Vacancies and Recruitment Delays:
   • With approximately 5,400 vacant positions in the lower judiciary, delayed recruitment processes contribute to a staggering backlog of 2.78 crore cases.
2. Quality of Judicial Officers:
   • The declining quality of judicial officers jeopardizes justice delivery, increasing case pendency, and impacting the competence of the higher judiciary.
3. Financial Constraints:
   • State judicial services’ unattractiveness to top talents due to financial constraints necessitates a shift toward a more lucrative and competitive service.
4. Training and Specialization:
   • Inadequate training facilities in state institutes demand the establishment of specialized institutions for comprehensive legal education and training.
5. Subjectivity and Nepotism:
   • Addressing concerns of subjectivity, corruption, and nepotism in the current appointment processes is vital for a transparent and impartial recruitment system.

Objections to AIJS:

1. Separation of Powers:
   • Transferring control to the Union government may undermine the independence of the judiciary, diluting the separation of powers.
2. Legal Education Standards:
   • AIJS may not effectively address the mismanagement and lack of standards in legal education, impacting the quality of legal research and scholarship.
3. Language Barriers:
   • Local language challenges may hinder AIJS officers in adapting to state-level practices, particularly in districts where courts transact business in the state language.
4. Quota and Promotional Avenues:
   • AIJS could limit promotional avenues for officers entering through state services, affecting the overall composition of state judicial services.

Challenges for the creation of the AIJS:

• A major issue would be that the posted judicial officer would be unaware of the local laws and customs which are important in deciding cases, particularly in matrimonial testamentary or property cases where final outcomes are determined by local customs.
• The vacancy is not uniform across all the states. Further, most of the vacancies are present at the subordinate level and not at the level of district judges. Therefore, AIJS which is only for the recruitment of district judges is not the solution for vacancies.
• A lot of coaching institutes would start flourishing across the country and hence education would be commercialized.
• Many communities who benefit from state quotas may not get any reservation by the Central Government after the creation of AIJS.

Benefits of AIJS:

1. Accountability and Transparency:
   • A career in judicial service enhances accountability and transparency, fostering a more professional and equitable judiciary.
2. Objective Recruitment:
   • Conducting open competitive exams reduces subjectivity in the recruitment process, ensuring a merit-based selection of judicial officers.
3. Attracting the Best Talent:
   • AIJS attracts the best legal talents, ensuring a steady influx of qualified officers and potentially expediting promotions to High Courts.
4. Uniform Justice Dispensation:
   • Standardizing adjudication practices across the country addresses disparities in state-level laws, practices, and standards.
5. Pendency Reduction:
   • Streamlined recruitment guarantees a continuous supply of quality officers, contributing to the reduction of case pendency.
6. Representative Character:
   • AIJS promotes diversity by drafting trained officers from underrepresented sections, enhancing the representative character of the judiciary.

Way Forward:

1. As Niti Aayog’s report suggests, AIJS could play a pivotal role in maintaining high judicial standards.
2. The proposal incorporates safeguards to address concerns about the independence of the judiciary and language barriers.
3. The establishment of an ‘All India Judicial Commission’ mirrors the UPSC model, emphasizing the autonomy of the subordinate judiciary.
4. While concerns persist, AIJS emerges as a critical reform to fortify the foundation of the Indian judiciary.

Expected mains Question:

1. Examine the constitutional basis for the All India Judicial Services (AIJS). Discuss the relevance of Article 312 and Article 233, and assess the role of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in AIJS recruitment.

Prelims Question:

Which among the following statements are true regarding the AIJS? Choose the correct option:

(a) UPSC’s role is minimal; AIJS is primarily governed by state laws.

(b) Article 233 exclusively governs AIJS, and Article 312 is irrelevant.

(c) Both Article 312 and Article 233 contribute to AIJS, with UPSC playing a crucial role.

(d) AIJS is constitutionally mandated only by state laws, and UPSC’s involvement is discretionary.

Answer: (c) Both Article 312 and Article 233 contribute to AIJS, with UPSC playing a crucial role.

Explanation:

Article 312 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to create All India Services, including the All India Judicial Services (AIJS). It provides a constitutional basis for a unified recruitment mechanism for judicial officers across states.

Article 233 gives the President of India the power to consult with the state’s Governor and establish rules for the recruitment of persons to the judicial service of the state.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) plays a crucial role in conducting examinations for AIJS, ensuring transparency, and maintaining meritocracy in the selection process.

This option captures the interplay between constitutional provisions and the role of the UPSC in the context of AIJS.