The Supreme Court of India, on 08.01.2015 has published revised scheme/guidelines
with respect to engagement of law Clerk-cum-Research Assistants on short term
contractual assignment by the Hon’ble Chief Justice and the Hon’ble Judges of
the Apex Court.
Supreme Court has issued revised guidelines to regulate appointment of law clerks |
As per
the new revised guidelines, Selection process for engaging Law Clerks shall be
initiated by notifying requirement and inviting applications online from
willing and eligible candidates by way of publishing an advertisement.
In the month of January every year, the Registry
will invite applications which are required to be submitted online with scanned
signature andphotograph. Applicants studying fifth year of the five-year
integrated law course , are required by the revised guidelines, to
submit attested copies of their grade-sheet/marks card/transcripts until the
end of the fourth year.
The revised guidelines formulated by the Supreme
Court state that since large number of applications are expected to be received
from eligible candidates all over the country, method of Screening shall be
followed for filtering the candidates and, for the said purpose, a National
Level Written Examination shall be conducted at four major cities across the
country, i.e. ,Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, at Test Centres to be
notified from
time to time.
“The duration of the Written Test will be of three
hours. The Question Paper for the Test will contain 150 questions with multiple
choice answers. Each question shall carry 1 mark. There shall be negative
marking and 0.25 marks shall be deducted for each incorrect answer.”, says the
revised guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in the matter of appointment and
selection of law clerks in the Court.
The Minimum qualifying marks for the said Written
Test has been prescribed as 60% in aggregate with minimum 50% marks for each of
the two Sections, namely, Section I, containing Questions relating to General
English and General aptitude/awareness and Section II being questions related
to the Indian constitution, Indian penal code, Civil Procedure Code etc.
A Committee
of Hon'ble Judges constituted by the Chief Justice will interview the eligible
candidates. The Interview, which
will be held in the month of May/June every year in the Supreme Court premises
at New Delhi, will carry 30marks with 15 marks being minimum
qualifying marks. The guidelines state that in addition to being a General
Interview, the candidates will also be asked questions relating to Law.
On the basis of the marks secured by the candidates
in the Written Test and Interview, a merit list shall be drawn wherefrom the
Committee of the Hon'ble Judges of the Supreme Court will recommend sufficient
candidates, in order of merit, to be kept on the panel of Law
Clerk-cum-Research Assistants for assignment during the next assignment
session. After receipt of the recommendations of the Committee, the Hon’ble Chief
Justice will approve the formation of a panel as per requirement for the assignment
session and order for attachment of one or two Law Clerk(s) to each of the
Hon'ble Judges including the Chief Justice himself, according to seniority, as
may be required by the judges.
Law
Clerks so selected and attached to the Hon’ble Judges, will be paid a fixed
consolidated stipend of Rs.30,OOO/- per month without any dearness or other
allowance/perquisites.
The guidelines lay down the duties and
responsibilites of a Law Clerk as including the following:-
“(i) Preparing brief summary of fresh admission
matter;
(ii) Preparing synopsis of regular hearing matters;
(iii) Sitting in the Court during hearing of
regular matters and noting down
all the arguments;
preparation of draft judgments;
(v) To assist the Hon'ble Judge to prepare speeches
and academic
papers; and
(vi) To perform any other work as directed by the
Hon'ble Judge.”
On successful completion of term of assignment by a
Law Clerk, he/she will be issued a Certificate by the Registrar (Admn.I), in
form as is prescribed in Schedule-II to the scheme.
The revised scheme/guidelines
framed by the Supreme Court of India for engagement of law clerks and published
on 08.01.2015 can be accessed here
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