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Jobs & Career
Supreme Court Rejects Plea of 35 Candidates Over Jharkhand Judicial Service Prelims Exclusion
✍️ Live Law
🗓 23 Aug 2026, 12:48 AM
👁 7
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by 35 aspirants challenging their exclusion from the Jharkhand Judicial Service preliminary exam, upholding the state’s eligibility criteria.
The apex court on Monday turned down a petition submitted by 35 candidates who alleged arbitrary exclusion from the Jharkhand Judicial Service (JJS) preliminary examination. The petitioners argued that the eligibility norms were applied inconsistently, seeking a stay on the result and a re‑evaluation of the selection process.
The bench, after hearing counsel for both sides, held that the state’s notification regarding age, educational qualifications and other criteria was clear and had been uniformly applied. It noted that the petitioners had not demonstrated any procedural irregularity that warranted judicial intervention.
Consequently, the court ordered the JJS authorities to proceed with the announced list of candidates and to conduct the subsequent stages of the recruitment as scheduled. The decision underscores the judiciary’s reluctance to interfere in administrative matters unless a clear violation of law is established.
Legal experts say the ruling reaffirms the principle that eligibility criteria set by state recruitment bodies are presumed valid unless proven otherwise. The JJS exam, a key gateway for law graduates aspiring to join the state’s lower judiciary, will now move forward to the mains and interview phases.
The 35 aspirants may consider filing a fresh petition if new evidence emerges, but for now the selection process will continue without further delay.
The bench, after hearing counsel for both sides, held that the state’s notification regarding age, educational qualifications and other criteria was clear and had been uniformly applied. It noted that the petitioners had not demonstrated any procedural irregularity that warranted judicial intervention.
Consequently, the court ordered the JJS authorities to proceed with the announced list of candidates and to conduct the subsequent stages of the recruitment as scheduled. The decision underscores the judiciary’s reluctance to interfere in administrative matters unless a clear violation of law is established.
Legal experts say the ruling reaffirms the principle that eligibility criteria set by state recruitment bodies are presumed valid unless proven otherwise. The JJS exam, a key gateway for law graduates aspiring to join the state’s lower judiciary, will now move forward to the mains and interview phases.
The 35 aspirants may consider filing a fresh petition if new evidence emerges, but for now the selection process will continue without further delay.