Chhattisgarh High Court Stays Civil Judge Recruitment | Check What It Means for Aspirants

The Chhattisgarh Civil Judge Exam has been postponed after the Chhattisgarh High Court stayed the recruitment process on April 7, 2025. The Court’s decision aligns with similar actions taken across other states where judiciary exams have been halted pending the Supreme Court’s reserved judgement in the All India Judges Association v. Union of India case. The Court directed the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) to maintain the status quo, impacting Judiciary, APO, and JLO aspirants nationwide.

Introduction

On April 7, 2025, the Chhattisgarh High Court issued an important order, staying the recruitment process for 57 Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts announced by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) on December 23, 2024. The decision mirrors a growing national trend where state judiciary exams are being deferred, awaiting clarity from the Supreme Court’s judgement on eligibility conditions for judicial posts.

With most judiciary recruitment processes now on hold, thousands of aspirants face uncertainty. This blog explores the reasons behind the postponement, today’s court proceedings, and the implications for students preparing for Judiciary, APO, and JLO exams in 2025.

Background: Chhattisgarh Judiciary Exam 2025 & the All India Judges Association Case

The CGPSC had released the Chhattisgarh Judiciary Notification 2025 on December 23, 2024, announcing 57 vacancies for Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts. The recruitment process was structured into:

• Preliminary Exam
• Main Exam
• Viva Voce

The preliminary examination was scheduled for May 18, 2025.

Earlier, in Vinita Yadav v. State of Chhattisgarh (2025), the Chhattisgarh High Court extended the application deadline and allowed candidates without Bar enrollment under the Advocates Act, 1961, to apply provisionally.

The Supreme Court’s Pending Judgement

The ongoing All India Judges Association v. Union of India case (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1022/1989) has become pivotal. The Supreme Court is deciding whether a minimum number of years of legal practice (typically three years) should be mandatory for applying to the posts of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) and Civil Judge (Junior Division).

The Supreme Court reserved judgement earlier this year, creating legal uncertainty for judiciary exams across states.

Context: Postponement Across States

• Andhra Pradesh: Civil Judge Exam 2025 postponed on April 4, affecting 50 vacancies.
• Gujarat: Gujarat High Court’s recruitment process stayed by the Supreme Court.
• Madhya Pradesh: Recruitment delayed due to disputes over practice requirements; provisional applications allowed.
• Other States: Assam, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to delay their exams as well.

This reflects a cautious, pan-India approach to maintain uniform eligibility standards while awaiting the Supreme Court’s final ruling.

April 7, 2025: Chhattisgarh High Court’s Key Observations

• Impact of Supreme Court’s Pending Decision: The High Court acknowledged that the eligibility criteria could significantly change once the Supreme Court rules, potentially invalidating the current recruitment process if not paused.
• Consistency Across States: Observing that states like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have already paused their judiciary exams, the Court stressed the importance of a uniform approach to ensure fairness.
• Order to Maintain Status Quo: The CGPSC has been directed to halt the entire recruitment process, including issuing admit cards, conducting the exam, and declaring results until further notice.

Court’s Directive to Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission

The CGPSC must:

• Maintain complete status quo.
• Halt issuance of admit cards.
• Stop all exam-related activities until the Supreme Court judgement.

This builds upon interim relief measures from Vinita Yadav v. State of Chhattisgarh (2025), where provisional applications were allowed for non-enrolled candidates.