Overview

• A bench of Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran made the reference in the All India Judges Association matter.
• The court flagged an anomalous pattern in which officers starting as JMFC or civil judge junior division rarely reach principal district judge or higher judicial office.
• High Courts and State Governments submitted divergent positions in response to earlier Supreme Court notices on career progression in the judiciary.
• Amicus Siddharth Bhatnagar proposed reserving a share of Principal District Judge posts for in‑service promotions, a suggestion opposed by Senior Advocate R. Basant on behalf of direct‑recruit aspirants.
• The order stresses balancing competing claims and examining prior three‑judge bench rulings to address morale and efficiency concerns within judicial administration.