The Supreme Court on Monday said its May 20 verdict
fixing a minimum three-year law practice criterion to appear in entry level
judicial services examination would apply prospectively and not affect the
recruitment notices initiated prior to the judgment.
Chief Justice BR Gavai-led bench on May 20 barred
fresh law graduates from appearing in entry level judicial services examination
and fixed a minimum three-year law practice criteria.
On Monday, the bench, also comprising Justices
Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, refused to examine a plea of Naveed
Bukhtiya and five others, who are practising lawyers, and have challenged the
recruitment notification of May 14 of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service
Commission as it did not mandate the three-year practice rule.
"You are saying that it was done only to defeat
the purpose of the judgement. Was the full court of the High Court aware that
the CJI is likely to pronounce the judgment on May 20, the CJI asked.
The CJI clarified the verdict would apply prospectively
to future judicial recruitments and does not disturb any selections that have
already started.
"We have clarified in the judgment that this
will not be applicable to any process which has already started and will be
applicable only for the next recruitment year," the CJI said in the order.
The plea was then dismissed as withdrawn.