HowIndiaEarns

Government jobJ-1: 77,840–1,36,520Group AGazetted

Civil Judge (Junior Division), Delhi Judicial Service

सिविल जज (जूनियर डिवीजन), दिल्ली न्यायिक सेवा

Entry-level judge through the Delhi Judicial Service exam — deciding civil suits and criminal cases as a Metropolitan Magistrate.

Delhi Judicial Service, under the High Court of Delhi · state government

Exam
Delhi Judicial Service
Qualification
Professional degree
Age limit
21–32 years
Transfers
Rare
Work hours
Court hours on the bench, plus long hours writing judgments
Probation
2 years, extendable, with training at the Delhi Judicial Academy

Pay scale

J-1: 77,840–1,36,520

Starting basic ₹77,840. HRA and other state allowances are added on top as per Delhi rules.

Judicial officers are paid on the judicial pay scales set after the Second National Judicial Pay Commission, not on the civil pay matrix. DA and other allowances are added.

What you will actually do

  • Trying criminal cases as a Metropolitan Magistrate: bail, charge, evidence and judgment
  • Deciding civil suits within the junior division's limits
  • Remand, warrants and other urgent orders, including on duty-magistrate days
  • Recording evidence and writing reasoned judgments
  • Supervising the court's staff and records

A typical day

Your court has a board of dozens of matters every day. You hear bail and remand first, record witnesses through the morning, hear arguments, and dictate orders between cases. Judgments are written in the evening and at weekends. Every order is open to appeal, the disposal figures are monitored by the High Court, and litigants and lawyers watch everything you do in open court.

Stress4/5
CalmIntense
Public dealing4/5
LittleConstant
Field work1/5
DeskOutdoors

Promotion path

Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.

  1. Civil Judge (Junior Division), Delhi Judicial Service (joining)

    J-1: 77,840–1,36,520

  2. Civil Judge (Junior Division), first ACP scale (J-2)

    On completing 5 years · via dpc

  3. Civil Judge (Senior Division) (J-3)

    By promotion after the qualifying service · via dpc

  4. District Judge (Delhi Higher Judicial Service)

    By promotion or limited competitive examination · via departmental exam

Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.

How to get in

Delhi Judicial ServiceRoughly once a year, when vacancies are notified

High Court of Delhi

  1. 1.Preliminary examination (objective)
  2. 2.Mains examination (written)
  3. 3.Viva voce

Eligibility: A citizen of India with not less than three years of practice as an advocate, certified as the rules require; time spent as a law clerk to a judge counts towards this. A degree in law is implied by enrolment as an advocate. Age 21–32. The rules set an upper limit of 32 on 1 January of the year concerned and no separate minimum; reserved categories get relaxation as notified.

The good

  • Independent decision-making from the first day
  • Starting pay well above other entry posts
  • Posting within Delhi

The hard parts

  • Needs three years at the bar before you can apply
  • Heavy case load and constant scrutiny
  • Restricted social life expected of a judge

Postings

District court complexes in Delhi. Judges rotate between civil and criminal courts and special assignments.

Judicial pay scale with dearness and other allowancesGovernment residence or house rent allowancePension and medical benefits for judicial officersSecurity of tenure and independence in judicial work

Questions people ask

What is the qualification and age limit for Civil Judge (Junior Division), Delhi Judicial Service?+

A citizen of India with not less than three years of practice as an advocate, certified as the rules require; time spent as a law clerk to a judge counts towards this. A degree in law is implied by enrolment as an advocate. Age: 21–32 years. Relaxation: The rules set an upper limit of 32 on 1 January of the year concerned and no separate minimum; reserved categories get relaxation as notified.

Which exam do I need to clear for Civil Judge (Junior Division), Delhi Judicial Service?+

Delhi Judicial Service (High Court of Delhi).

Can a fresh law graduate apply?+

No. The Delhi Judicial Service Rules as amended require at least three years of practice as an advocate.

Do other states pay the same?+

The judicial pay scales are common across states after the Second National Judicial Pay Commission, but each High Court runs its own exam with its own age limits and language requirements.

Compare with similar posts

Civil Judge vs District JudgeCivil Judge vs Assistant Public ProsecutorCivil Judge vs Junior Judicial Assistant / Restorer

District Judge (Entry Level), Delhi Higher Judicial Service

जिला न्यायाधीश (प्रवेश स्तर), दिल्ली उच्चतर न्यायिक सेवा

J-5: 1,44,840–1,94,660

Direct entry as an Additional District and Sessions Judge for lawyers aged 35 to 45 with seven years at the bar.

Basic ₹1,44,840–₹1,94,660Delhi Higher Judicial Service

Assistant Public Prosecutor (Delhi)

सहायक लोक अभियोजक (दिल्ली)

Pay Level 10

Group A gazetted post at Pay Level 10 for law graduates with three years at the bar — prosecuting criminal cases in Delhi's magistrate courts.

₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-handUPSC Assistant Public Prosecutor

Junior Judicial Assistant / Restorer (Delhi High Court)

कनिष्ठ न्यायिक सहायक / रेस्टोरर (दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय)

Pay Level 6

Group B post at Pay Level 6 in the Delhi High Court — registry, filing and record work, for graduates with typing.

₹57,000–₹67,000 in-handDelhi High Court JJA

Sources

This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.