Murmu backs all-India test to appoint judges

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday favoured the creation of an All-India Judicial Service (AIJS) to pick judges from varied backgrounds through a process that she said should be merit-based, competitive and transparent.

- Utkarsh Anand

Murmu's call for an AIJS revived a dialogue over a pan-Indian test for judges on the lines of the central civil services that has lingered in the backdrop of the judicial reforms debate for more than 60 years.

Speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations, Murmu emphasised that a more varied representation of India's unique diversity on the bench and the bar definitely helps serve the cause of justice better, adding one way to hasten the diversification process can be the creation of a system in which judges can be recruited from different backgrounds through a merit-based and transparent process.

"There can be an All-India Judicial Service which can select brilliant youngsters and nurture and promote their talents from lower levels to higher levels. Those who aspire to serve the bench can be selected from across the country to create a larger pool of talent. Such a system can offer opportunities to the less represented social groups too," she said.

"I wish to do something for such children so that they can come here. They're young, talented, energetic, and loyal to the country. For IAS, IPS, there is an all-India examination. There can be an All India Judicial Service which can select brilliant young stars and nurture and promote their talent from lawyer level to higher level," Murmu added.