Context
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted the rarely discussed constitutional provision allowing a “distinguished jurist” to be appointed directly as a Supreme Court judge. Though provided under Article 124(3), this route has never been used.
Explanation
- Article 124 deals with the establishment, composition and appointment of judges of the Supreme Court.
- Under Article 124(3), a person must be an Indian citizen and satisfy any one prescribed qualification.
- The person may have been a High Court judge for at least five years.
- Alternatively, the person may have been a High Court advocate for at least ten years.
- The third route permits a person who is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist to be appointed.
- The “distinguished jurist” is not defined by the Constitution, giving the provision flexibility to accommodate eminent legal scholars or jurists.
- This route was included to bring legal scholarship and specialised expertise to the Supreme Court.
- No Supreme Court judge has yet been appointed through the distinguished-jurist route.
- Supreme Court judges retire at 65 years.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040