Report
Primer on All India Judicial Services
Report content
The idea of creating an All India Judicial Services (AIJS) was first introduced by the 14th Report of the Law Commission in 1958. These recommendations have been reiterated by several stakeholders over the years and the Constitution was even amended during the Emergency to clear the decks for the creation of the AIJS. More recently, the Union Law Minister has repeatedly signalled his intention to go ahead with the creation of the AIJS in order to ensure more efficient recruitment as well as guaranteeing greater representation for marginalised communities through a system of reservations. Given the continuing interest in the creation of the AIJS, we at Vidhi have prepared a primer on the AIJS examining the history behind the proposal as well as highlighting the significant challenges in going ahead with the creation of an AIJS especially the issues of federalism, judicial vacancies, existing reservations policies, local language and customs within states. The report traces the trajectory of this discussion from 1954 till date, and how the ideas and justifications for its creation arguably emanate from outdated or incomplete information. It further argues that crucial facets regarding the establishment of an AIJS, governance structure, which cadre of judicial officers will it be applicable for, etc,. remain unaddressed in the existing discourse.
Report document
Authors
Prashant Reddy T.
Former Team Lead, JALDI
Prashant Reddy T. was a Senior Resident Fellow and former team lead of Judicial Reforms Initiative at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
Ameen Jauhar
Former Senior Resident Fellow and Lead, ALTR
Ameen was a Senior Resident Fellow at Vidhi, and led the Centre for Applied Law and Technology Research (ALTR). His interest and research focus lies in AI ethics, and the governance of AI. Within ALTR, he has been leading the team's collaborative research on data trusts, and artificial intelligence. Ameen has also worked on the intersection of technology and the justice system, as a senior fellow working on the JALDI mission's engagement with the Supreme Court of India's AI and E-Courts' committees. Ameen has a formal educational background in social research methods and evidence-based policy. He completed his master’s programme from the Institute of Education (University College London), focusing on the use of research evidence in policy processes, and was awarded an MSc. with an overall distinction. Before this, he completed his undergraduate legal studies from the W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences [B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)] in 2012. Prior to Vidhi, Ameen worked at J. Sagar Associates, in the firm’s regulatory and policy team. He has practised in the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, and numerous tribunals.
Reshma Sekhar
Former Senior Resident Fellow
Reshma was a Senior Resident Fellow working in the area of Judicial Reforms. Her work focuses on systemic issues in the judiciary such as infrastructure, judicial selection (AIJS) and training, and tribunalisation. At JALDI, she was involved in interdisciplinary projects addressing the need for effective modern solutions to promote accessibility and agility of the judiciary, including the re-thinking of courtroom architecture and digitisation of the judicial process. She takes a keen interest in data design, enrichment and visualisation. Reshma graduated with a BA, LLB (Hons.) from the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Cochin in 2015. Prior to joining Vidhi, she was an in-house counsel in the legal compliance function of a leading Indian technology company.
Institution
District judiciary
Tags
Judicial Independence
Transparency
Related articles
First Interface In A Blind Spot On Law Street
The opinion was published in the Outlook on 25th February 2021.
Is A Central Examination Process A Silver Bullet For Filling Judicial Vacancies?
This opinion was published in LiveLaw on 3rd April 2020.