Revised Passing Criteria for District Judge Examination

The Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives has approved a significant amendment to the Judicial Service Commission Act. The revision, presented in Section 13(4) of the Act, lowers the minimum passing score for the district judge written examination from 50% to 40%. This change is pending approval from both houses of the federal parliament.

Implications for Candidates

The amendment aims to address the high failure rate among candidates. Historical data shows that the pass rates for these exams have been exceedingly low, with instances in years 2074 and 2080 where only 16 and one candidate(s) respectively passed the examination. The decision to lower the passing score reflects an effort to align the evaluation process more closely with practical legal training and other civil service examinations.

Eligibility and Recruitment

The constitution mandates that 40% of district judge vacancies are to be filled through open competition among candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in law with at least three years of experience in a gazetted second-class judicial position. Another pathway includes law practitioners with a minimum of eight years of experience or those involved in law education and research.

Future Prospects and Examination Trends

The amendment comes as a response to the consistent underperformance in these examinations, where even in 2078 only three out of many candidates managed to pass. The adjustment in pass marks is expected to potentially increase the number of qualified candidates eligible for these critical roles in the judicial system.

Additional Amendments

Furthermore, the committee has resolved to set a retirement age for the chairman of the Nepal Law Commission, establishing it at 65 years to maintain consistency with other constitutional commissions. Previously, there was no retirement age specified, only a minimum age requirement of 45 years for appointment.

This reformative step taken by the committee is poised to transform the landscape of judicial appointments, making them more accessible while still maintaining rigorous standards essential for upholding justice and legal integrity in Nepal.