Delhi Judicial Services Syllabus 2023: A Detailed Overview
Acadlog Admin
November 6, 2023 8 mins to read
The Delhi Judicial Services (DJS) examination is a gateway for law graduates to enter the judicial service and serve as Civil Judges (Junior Division) within the capital territory. This article describes the Delhi Judicial Service preliminary and mains examination syllabus, providing aspirants with an in-depth understanding and latest updates necessary for effective preparation.
Contents
Introduction to the Delhi Judicial Services Examination
Every year, the Delhi High Courtconducts the DJS examination to select the most competent candidates for the judiciary. The recruitment process is meticulous, ensuring that only those with a deep understanding of legal principles and practical application are selected. The preliminary examination is the first hurdle that aspirants must cross.
The Preliminary Examination: A Snapshot
Exam Pattern: The preliminary examination is an objective screening test composed of 150 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark.
Duration: Candidates have 2 hours to complete the exam.
Negative Marking: For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks are deducted, making accuracy as crucial as knowledge.
Qualifying Marks: General category candidates need to score a minimum of 60%, while reserved category candidates have a slightly lower threshold of 55%.
The preliminary stage of the Delhi Judicial Services (DJS) Examination is a crucial screening test designed to evaluate a candidate’s general legal knowledge, problem-solving skills, power of expression, and proficiency in English. Here is an extensive breakdown of the topics that candidates must thoroughly prepare:
General Legal Knowledge and Aptitude
Constitution of India
Preamble
Fundamental Rights & Duties
Directive Principles of State Policy
Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary
Center-State Relations
Emergency Provisions
Amendments to the Constitution
Writs
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Jurisdiction of the Courts
Res Judicata
Various types of Courts
Suits in Civil Cases
Orders and Decrees
Execution of Decrees
Civil Procedure Code and Limitation Act
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
FIR and Stages of Criminal Case
Bail
Jurisdiction and Powers of Courts
Criminal Trial
Appeals, Revisions, and References
Indian Penal Code
General Exceptions
Offenses against Property
Offenses against the Human Body
Offenses against the State and against Public Tranquility
Offenses relating to Marriage
Indian Contract Act, 1872
Essentials of a Valid Contract
Performance of Contracts
Breach of Contract and Remedies
Special Contracts including Indemnity, Guarantee, Bailment, Agency
Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
Nature of LLP
Formation of LLP
Partners and their Relations
Extent and Limitation of Liability
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
Arbitration Agreement
Composition of Arbitral Tribunal
Arbitral Award
Conciliation Proceedings
Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Relevancy of Facts
Admission and Confession
Witness and Testimonies
Documentary Evidence and its Authentication
Specific Relief Act, 1963
Recovering Possession of Property
Specific Performance of Contracts
Preventive Relief
Declaratory Decrees
Limitation Act, 1963
Computation of the Period of Limitation
Limitations of Suits, Appeals, and Applications
Exclusion of Time
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
Definitions and Types of Offenses
Procedure for Reporting a Case
Trial of Offenses and Special Courts
Commercial Courts Act, 2015
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Commercial Appellate Courts
Expedited Procedures
Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957
Functioning of Municipal Corporations
Election of Members, Duties, and Functions
Property, Contracts, and Liabilities of Corporations
Additional Skills and Knowledge Areas
Aptitude
Logical Reasoning
Analytical Abilities
Basic Mathematics
English
Grammar
Vocabulary
Comprehension
General Knowledge
Current Affairs
Important Legal and Constitutional Developments
Recent Judgments of Significance
Delhi Judicial Services Mains Examination: A Comprehensive Syllabus
When we look into the Delhi Judicial Services Mains Examination, we find a challenging and exhaustive test that evaluates a candidate’s in-depth knowledge of law and language. With a total of 850 marks at stake, the examination is divided into four distinct papers:
Paper 1: General Legal Knowledge and Language (250 Marks)
This paper is bifurcated into two sections:
Section I – General Legal Knowledge (100 Marks)
Current legal topics in the news
Static and dynamic general knowledge
Section II – Language (150 Marks)
Essay Writing: Assessing the candidate’s argumentative skills and knowledge on various topics.
Translation: Candidates must translate passages between English and Hindi, demonstrating their command over both languages.
Precis Writing: Testing the ability to comprehend and succinctly summarize long passages.
Paper 2: Civil Law – I (200 Marks)
This paper encapsulates significant statutes and legal frameworks:
The Indian Contract Act of 1872
The Sale of Goods Act of 1930
The Transfer of Property Act, 1882
The Specific Relief Act of 1963
Hindu Law
Mohammedan Law
The Delhi Rent Control Act of 1958
Law of Torts
The New Delhi Municipal Council Act of 1994
The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957
The Commercial Courts Act of 2015
Paper 3: Civil Law – II (200 Marks)
Candidates must display proficiency in procedural and evidence law:
The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
The Indian Evidence Act of 1872
The Limitation Act of 1963
The Registration Act of 1908
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
The Trade Marks Act, 1999
The Copyright Act of 1957
Paper 4: Criminal Law (200 Marks)
A thorough understanding of criminal law is tested here:
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
The Indian Penal Code
The Indian Evidence Act of 1872
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
The Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
The Mains Examination requires meticulous preparation, with candidates needing to:
Go thoroughly into each statute and understand the legal principles and case laws.
Develop a strong command of language for translation and precis writing.
Stay abreast of current legal developments and judgments to tackle general knowledge questions.
Practice writing essays and answers to enhance presentation and expression, as marks are deducted for poor language skills.
Final Words
The Delhi Judicial Services Mains Examination is comprehensive, challenging, and designed to filter out those with the highest caliber of legal understanding and application. By thoroughly preparing for each paper and honing their legal and linguistic skills, candidates can aspire to achieve the marks required to advance towards a career in the judiciary.