The Jharkhand High Court conducted a hearing on several petitions demanding an age relaxation for the appointment examination of Civil Judges (Junior Division). Following the hearing, the court granted permission for candidates above 35 years of age to participate in the examination. The court directed the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) to change the age limit, shifting it from January 31, 2023, to January 31, 2019.
Justices S. Chandrashekhar and Anubha Rawat Choudhary of the Jharkhand High Court presided over the hearing regarding age relaxation demands in the appointment examination for Civil Judges (Junior Division). After the hearing, the court granted permission for candidates over 35 years old to participate in the examination.
In its directive to the JPSC, the court instructed a change in the advertised age limit from January 31, 2023, to January 31, 2019. Following this order, candidates turning 35 before January 31, 2019, are now eligible to participate in the examination, provided they had filed a petition in the High Court.
A total of 89 candidates, including Dharmendra Kumar, submitted petitions in the High Court on this matter. During the proceedings, it was revealed on behalf of the petitioner that the JPSC did not conduct the Civil Judges (Junior Division) examination in 2018, and the advertisement was issued directly in 2023.
The advertisement had set the age limit as January 31, 2023. Due to the lack of exams conducted in the past five years, several aspirants were unable to apply for this appointment.
Representatives of the JPSC, including advocates Sanjay Piparwal and Prince Kumar Singh, explained to the court that the examination for Civil Judges (Junior Division) was not announced in 2018 because there were no vacant positions at that time. In 2019-20, there were limited vacant positions, and further, the announcement for appointments in 2023 was made by extending the process.
As per the government’s directive, the age limit was set as January 31, 2023. The court had previously directed the acceptance of applications from all petitioners in this case. In its order, the court granted permission for all candidates, providing an age relaxation, to participate in the examination.
