The Jammu and Kashmir government has updated the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Judicial) Recruitment Rules, 1967, aligning them with recent legal reforms. These amendments, carried out by the Lieutenant Governor under Article 234 of the Constitution, in consultation with the High Court and Public Service Commission, significantly modify the syllabus for the Judicial Services (Mains) Examination.
The updated syllabus includes the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, alongside other relevant laws and regulations. The examination now comprises compulsory and optional papers, with compulsory papers covering English Essay, Translation, Precis Writing, General Knowledge, Constitutional Law, the new criminal law codes, and General Financial Rules.
Candidates must also choose three optional papers from a separate list.
Amendments also address medical fitness protocols, requiring candidates to be mentally and physically fit for their duties.
The original rules, dating back to 1968, have undergone their first major overhaul. The changes aim to modernize the recruitment process and reflect the significant legal updates made in 2023.
In a major overhaul of the judicial recruitment framework, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Judicial) Recruitment Rules, 1967—nearly six decades after their enactment.
The amendments have been carried out by the Lieutenant Governor under Article 234 of the Constitution, in consultation with the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and the J&K Public Service Commission, as per a statutory order notified by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Key Highlights of the Amendments:
The syllabus for the Judicial Services (Mains) Examination has undergone significant changes and is now aligned with the recently enacted criminal law codes.
Paper A:
General Knowledge
Indian Constitutional Law
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Limitation Act, 1963
Paper B:
General Financial Rules, 2017
J&K Civil Services Regulations, 1956 (Chapters III–XIII, XXII & XXIII)
Rules and Orders for Guidance of Subordinate Courts (Civil & Criminal)
Circulars from the High Court
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Transfer of Property Act, 1882
Registration Act, 1908
J&K Residential and Commercial Tenancy Act, 2012
The written examination will now consist of both compulsory and optional papers:
Compulsory Papers:
Paper I: English Essay, Translation (English to Urdu/Hindi and vice versa), and Precis Writing
Paper II: General Knowledge and Constitutional Law
Paper III: BNS, BNSS & BSA (2023 codes)
Paper IV: General Financial Rules, 2017
J&K Civil Services Regulations, 1956 (Chapters III–XIII, XXII & XXIII)
Rules and Orders for Guidance of Subordinate Courts (Civil & Criminal)
Candidates must also select three optional papers from a list to be notified.
Amendments have also been made to medical fitness protocols. While guidelines are provided, discretion remains with the medical board, and a candidate must be mentally and physically fit, free from any disability that could hinder official duties.
Background:
The original rules were notified on January 4, 1968, and have remained largely unchanged since. The latest changes not only update the legal framework but also aim to align the judiciary's recruitment process with contemporary legal reforms, particularly in wake of the 2023 criminal law revamp.
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