Rajkumar Dhiman, Dehradun: A growing wave of concern is being voiced by final-year law students across Uttarakhand regarding the ongoing recruitment process for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC). According to the official notification, the last date to submit online applications is June 5, 2025. However, most law colleges in the state—both government and private institutions—have not yet conducted final semester examinations, leaving students unable to obtain their degree certificates or final marksheets before the deadline.
As per the eligibility criteria, candidates must possess a completed law degree at the time of application. Since the final-year examinations are scheduled for mid to late June 2025, students are currently not in a position to provide the required academic documents. This procedural timeline effectively disqualifies hundreds of academically eligible and willing students from applying for the position.
In light of this, students are urging the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand to intervene and request UKPSC to extend the application deadline to July 15, 2025. They believe this extension would provide sufficient time for the completion of examinations, declaration of results, and acquisition of the necessary documents, ensuring fair access to the recruitment opportunity.
Adding to the urgency, the students have pointed out a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of India, dated May 20, 2025, which mandates three years of legal practice as an eligibility criterion for entry-level judicial service examinations, including for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division). If students are unable to apply during this recruitment cycle, they may have to wait two to three years for the next opportunity—by which time, many may not meet the new eligibility requirements due to lack of the mandated legal practice.
“This recruitment is not just another career opportunity,” one student remarked. “For many of us, it represents a defining moment in our professional journey—a chance to serve the judiciary and society with integrity and dedication.”
Students are pleading for sympathetic consideration from the government and relevant authorities to ensure that deserving and hardworking candidates are not unfairly excluded from this crucial opportunity due to rigid administrative scheduling.
