Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Examination

Basic eligibility paths

• ✓Under Rule 2, Part A of the Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Rules a candidate must be 21 to 35 years old on the last date for the application form; the ceiling is 40 years for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Class candidates, and ex-servicemen get the relaxation in the Punjab Recruitment of Ex-servicemen Rules, 1982.
• ✓Rule 3 requires an LLB degree qualifying the candidate for enrolment as an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961.
• ✓Rule 4 requires satisfactory evidence of good moral character and conduct and of medical fitness; Rule 5 disqualifies a person with more than one spouse living.
• ✓Rule 7(3) of Part C sets the Punjabi (Gurmukhi script) language paper at Matriculation standard of the Punjab School Education Board, with 33 per cent as the minimum qualifying mark.
• ✓These are the standing service rules. Confirm the cut-off date, reservation and category rules in the official current-cycle notice.

Relaxations & certificates

• SC/ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations follow the applicable notification.
• Always check the certificate format and cut-off date in the official notice.

Selection stages

1. 1Written examination papers set by the recruiting authority — Part C of the Punjab Civil Service (Judicial Branch) Rules
2. 2Viva-voce test — a candidate needs at least 33 per cent in every paper and 50 per cent in the aggregate of the written papers (45 per cent for SC, ST, Backward Class and PwD candidates) to be called
3. 3Merit list on the aggregate of written papers and viva-voce; medical fitness certificate before appointment

Syllabus snapshot

• Paper I — Civil Law: Code of Civil Procedure, Punjab Courts Act, Indian Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Indian Partnership Act, Specific Relief Act and Indian Evidence Act (200 marks, per Part C, Rule 9 of the rules).
• Paper II — Civil Law: Hindu Law, Mohammadan Law and Customary Law, Law of Registration and Limitation (200 marks).
• Paper III — Criminal Law: Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act (200 marks).
• Paper IV — English Composition, a choice of six essays on general subjects (150 marks).
• Paper V — Language: Punjabi in Gurmukhi script (150 marks; translation, explanation of prose and poetry, and composition).
• Paper VI — Viva-voce, conducted in English, to judge alertness, intelligence and general outlook (100 marks).
• The rules state that the syllabus is liable to alteration; use the official current-cycle syllabus when it is published.