Lok Sabha Question No. 3616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Establishment of All India Judicial Service and Implementation of Constitutional Provisions
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3616 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13 TH  MARCH, 2026

## ESTABLISHMENT OF ALL INDIA JUDICIAL SERVICE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

## †3616.  SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA:

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the establishment of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) with due provision for reservation on the lines of the IAS and IPS, would enhance opportunities for entry into the judiciary for candidates belonging to rural and disadvantaged sections, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes;
- (b) if so, the view of the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether various public representatives and legal experts have been demanding creation of an All India Judicial Service for a long time;
- (d) if so, the progress made so far in this regard;
- (e) whether there are instances where constitutional provisions relating to the empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes remain fully implemented even till date;
- (f) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the  time-bound  action  plan  formulated  by  the  Government  for  full  and effective  implementation  of  the  inclusive  provisions  of  the  Constitution, particularly those relating to reserved categories?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a)  to  (g): Article  312  of  the  Constitution  provides  for  the  establishment  of  an All India  Judicial  Service  (AIJS),  which  shall  not  include  any  post  inferior  to  that  of  a District Judge.

A comprehensive proposal was formulated for the constitution of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) and the same was approved by the Committee of Secretaries in November, 2012. The proposal was included as an agenda item in the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the High Courts held in April, 2013 and it was decided that the issue needs further deliberation and consideration. The views of the State  Governments  and  High  Courts  were  sought  on  the  proposal.  There  was divergence of opinion among the State Governments and among the High Courts on the constitution of an All India Judicial Service.

The  matter  regarding  creation  of  a  Judicial  Service  Commission  to  help  the recruitment to the post of district judges and review of selection process of  judges/ judicial  officers  at  all  levels  was  also  included  in  the  agenda  for  the  Chief  Justices' Conference, which was held on 03 rd  and 04 th April, 2015, wherein it was resolved to leave it open to the respective High Courts to evolve appropriate methods within the existing system to fill up the vacancies for appointment of District judges expeditiously. The proposal for constitution of All India Judicial Service with views from the High Courts and State Governments received thereon was also included in the  agenda  for  the  Joint  Conference  of  Chief  Ministers  and  Chief  Justices  of  High Courts held on 05 th April, 2015. However, no progress was made in the matter.

The proposal of setting up of an All India Judicial Service was again discussed on  points  of  eligibility,  age,  selection  criteria,  qualification,  reservations  etc.  in  a meeting  chaired  by  then  Minister  of  Law  and  Justice  on  16 th January  2017  in  the presence  of  Minister  of  State  for  Law  and  Justice,  Attorney  General  for  India, Solicitor General of India, Secretaries of Department of Justice, Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department. Setting up AIJS was also deliberated in a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee in March, 2017 and the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of SCs/STs on 22.02.2021.

It was proposed to include the issue of All India Judicial Service in the agenda for Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts held on 30 th April, 2022. However, the same could not be included in the agenda of the conference. In  view  of  the  existing  divergence  of  opinion  amongst  the  major  stakeholders,  at present,  there  is  no  consensus  on  the  proposal  for  setting  up  an  All  India  Judicial Service.

As  far  as  existing  provisions  regarding  appointment  of  judicial  officers  in District and Subordinate Courts is concerned, under Article 235 of the Constitution of India,  the  administrative  control  over  the  members  of  district  and  subordinate judiciary  in  the  States  vests  with  the  concerned  High  Court.  In  exercise  of  powers conferred  under  proviso  to  Article  309  read  with  Articles  233  and  234  of  the Constitution, the respective State Governments, in consultation with the High Court, frame  the  Rules  and  Regulations  regarding  the  issue  of  appointment,  promotion, reservations and retirement of Judicial Officers in the State Judicial Service.

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