New Delhi – The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred issues related to career stagnation faced by lower judicial officers across the country to a five-judge Constitution bench.

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the reference order while hearing a plea filed by the All India Judges Association on issues related to service conditions, pay scales, and career progression of judicial officers.

The CJI observed that a comprehensive solution is needed to address the limited promotional avenues available to those who join the judiciary at entry-level positions.

The bench said that divergent views had been expressed by several high courts and state governments in their responses to the notices earlier issued by the Supreme Court on the issue.

“Some high courts have taken a view that on account of the prevailing situation, the judges who initially enter the service as civil judge, junior division are not in the position to reach up to the post of district judges,” the CJI said.

The bench took note of the“anomalous situation” prevalent in many states, where judicial officers who begin their careers as Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) often retire without ever reaching the post of principal district judge (PDJ), let alone elevation to the high court bench.

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