The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday observed that “some kind of nationwide ‘uniformity'” in criteria is needed to determine the seniority of entry-level judicial officers, aiming to address the slow and uneven career progression faced by such judges across the country.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai clarified that it does not intend to encroach upon the powers of high courts in recommending names for judgeship. The bench, also comprising justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, K Vinod Chandran, and Joymalya Bagchi, is considering the framing of uniform, nationwide criteria for determining seniority in the Higher Judicial Service (HJS) cadre.

Background of the Matter

The issue originated from a plea filed by the All India Judges Association (AIJA

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