Chandigarh, August 2
It is believed more than 50 per cent of the senior-most sub-judges have failed to clear the suitability test for promotion as additional district and sessions judges in Punjab.

The failure rate is comparatively less in Haryana. Estimates suggest just about 35 per cent could not clear the examination.

The tests were conducted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in May this year. Among other things, the knowledge of law of the judicial officers was put to test. In all, candidates three times the number of posts were called for the examinations in both Punjab and Haryana.

In fact, 45 candidates appeared for the 15 posts of additional district and sessions judges in Punjab. Similarly, in Haryana nearly 24 candidates were called to take the test for eight posts.

The results were declared just about a month back. Available information suggest at least eight senior judges could not clear the examination in Punjab, while three senior judges failed in Haryana.

An analysis of the result indicates that senior sub-judges, who would have been elevated as additional district and sessions judges by the dint of their seniority in the absence of the suitability test, will now function on the same post. Their juniors will now be promoted by the virtue of their clearing the tests.

Responding to the results, the High Court says the “not-so-good” performance of the judicial officers cannot be construed to indicate their “not-so-deep” knowledge of law. It cannot even be said the judicial officers in Haryana are well-versed with the law, compared to their counterparts in Punjab.

The High Court insists the judicial officers in Haryana have been taking the test more often and are more conversant with the examination process, compared to their counterparts in Punjab. Moreover, the role of the luck factor in the final outcome of the examination process cannot be excluded, an officer says.

In any case, the result indicates that the scales of justice are clearly tilted towards ensuring the judicial officers in both Punjab and Haryana undergo refresher courses so that justice misread is not justice denied.