Delhi Judicial Services Syllabus 2023: A Detailed Overview

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.

Introduction to the Delhi Judicial Services Examination

Every year, the Delhi High Court conducts 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%​​.

Delhi Judicial Services Preliminary Examination: Detailed Syllabus

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

Read:

• UGC NET JRF syllabus
• AAI Junior Executive syllabus

Preparing for the Mains Examination

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.