The Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service (HPJS) Examination is a highly competitive, state-level examination conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) to recruit candidates for the prestigious post of Civil Judge (Junior Division).
HPJS 2025 Examination Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service Competitive Examination (HPJS) |
| Conducting Authority | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) |
| Post Name | Civil Judge (Junior Division) |
| Total Vacancies | 21 Civil Judge Posts (as per 2025 notification) |
| Stages of Examination | 1. Preliminary Exam (Objective Type) 2. Written Main Examination (Descriptive Type) 3. Viva-Voce (Interview/Personality Test) |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Written Papers) |
| Salary Scale (Civil Judge) | ₹77,840 to ₹1,36,520 per month (as per 7th Pay Commission) |
Important HPJS 2025 Dates
The Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Notification 2025 was released on December 15, 2024.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | December 15, 2024 |
| Start Date for Application | December 15, 2024 |
| Last Date to Fill Application Form/Pay Fee | January 5, 2025, 11:59 PM |
| Last Date for Offline Document Submission | January 13, 2025 |
| HPJS Prelims Exam Date | March 2, 2025 |
| HPJS Mains Exam Date | Last Week of March 2025 (Tentative) |
Note on Mains Examination Schedule: The Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service (Main) Examination–2024 was previously scheduled from March 30, 2025, to April 3, 2025. However, this examination was put on hold by the HP Public Service Commission (HPPSC) until further direction from the Hon’ble High Court of Himachal Pradesh, due to a pending Writ Petition (titled All India Judges Association & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors.) in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Exam Pattern and Qualifying Marks
The HPJS examination is conducted in three distinct stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Examination, and Viva-Voce.
1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
The Prelims exam serves as a screening test and consists of three objective-type papers, all held on the same day. There is no negative marking. The syllabus for the Preliminary exam is identical to Papers I to III of the Main Examination.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Questions | Marks per Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Civil Law-I | 100 | 1 Hour | 50 | 2 |
| Paper-II | Civil Law-II | 100 | 1 Hour | 50 | 2 |
| Paper-III | Criminal Law | 100 | 1 Hour | 50 | 2 |
| Total | 300 Marks | 3 Hours | 150 |
Candidates equal to 20 times the number of vacancies will be selected based on the Preliminary Exam merit to appear for the Main Examination.
2. Main Examination (Descriptive/Narrative)
The Main Exam consists of five descriptive papers, each lasting three hours. Bare copies of legislative enactments only will be supplied during the exam.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Civil Law-I | 200 |
| Paper-II | Civil Law-II | 200 |
| Paper-III | Criminal Law | 200 |
| Paper-IV | English Composition | 150 |
| Paper-V | Language (Hindi) | 100 |
| Total Marks (Mains) | 850 Marks |
Minimum Qualifying Marks for Mains: To qualify the Main Examination, a candidate must obtain the following minimum marks:
- 40% marks in each paper, except Hindi language.
- 33% marks in the Hindi Language paper (Paper-V).
- 45% marks in aggregate across all five papers.
3. Viva-Voce (Interview)
Candidates who qualify the Main Written Examination will be called for the Viva-Voce, typically the top 3 candidates per vacancy.
- Total Marks: The maximum marks for the Viva-Voce are 150.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: A candidate must obtain at least 45% of the marks allocated for the Viva-Voce to qualify (67.5 marks).
- The marks obtained in the Viva-Voce are added to the marks obtained in the Main Written Examination for the purpose of final selection.
Himachal Pradesh Judiciary Syllabus Breakdown
The syllabus covers central laws, Himachal Pradesh-specific local laws, and language proficiency.
| Paper | Subject and Topics | Specific Acts/Areas Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Law-I (200 Marks) | Civil Procedure & Evidence | Code of Civil Procedure, Indian Evidence Act, Indian Stamp Act, Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976, Specific Relief Act |
| Civil Law-II (200 Marks) | Substantive Civil Law & Local Rent Control | Indian Contract Act, Hindu Law, Indian Limitation Act, Transfer of Property Act, H.P. Urban Rent Control Act |
| Criminal Law (200 Marks) | Criminal Law, Local Acts & Judicial Sensitivity | Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Negotiable Instruments Act (Chapter-XVII: Sections 138-143), H.P. Excise Act-2011, Wild Life Protection Act, Indian Forest Act |
| Judicial Sensitivity Module | Includes Judicial Sensitivity to Sexual Offences, gender stereotyping, cybercrimes against women, POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, and Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act. | |
| English Composition (150 Marks) | Essay & Translation | Essay (100 Marks) chosen from three general subjects; Translation of Hindi passage into English (50 Marks). Standard is that of graduation examination of Himachal Pradesh University. |
| Language (Hindi) (100 Marks) | Translation, Essay & Composition | Translation of English passage into Hindi (30 Marks); Essay in Hindi on any topic out of three (50 Marks); Composition (Idioms and Corrections etc.) (20 Marks). Standard is that of matriculation examination of the H.P. Board of School Education. |
Subject-wise Recommended Books for HPJS Preparation
Choosing the right resources is crucial for comprehensive coverage of the HP Judiciary syllabus. It is generally recommended to stick to one or two trusted books per subject to avoid confusion and utilize bare acts for foundational understanding.
| Subject | Recommended Book Title | Author/Publication | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law of Evidence | The Law of Evidence / Textbook on the Indian Evidence Act | Batuklal / K.D. Gaur | Clear explanations and incorporation of case laws. |
| Indian Contract Act | Indian Contract Act | R.K. Bangia | Detailed commentary on case laws and practical examples. |
| Indian Penal Code (IPC) | Indian Penal Code | Ratanlal | Detailed explanation of provisions, illustrations, and practical application. |
| Civil Procedure Code (CPC) & Limitation | Civil Procedure with Limitation Act / Civil Procedure Code | C.K. Takwani | Concise and comprehensive treatment of procedural law in civil cases. |
| Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) | R.V. Kelkar’s Criminal Procedure / Criminal Procedure Code | R.V. Kelkar / K.D. Gaur | Systematic explanation focusing on provisions, procedures, and practical applications. |
| Hindu Law | Modern Hindu Law | Paras Diwan | In-depth analysis of personal laws, contemporary applications, and evolving legal interpretations. |
| Limitation Act | Limitation Act / Law of Limitation and Prescription | J.D. Jain / B.B. Mitra | Thorough examination of time limits for filing suits, appeals, and applications. |
| Jurisprudence | Jurisprudence | N.V. Paranjape | Covers foundational principles of law, sources of law, and theories of justice. |
| HP Local & Allied Laws | HP Judicial Services Examination: Objective Local & Allied Laws | Gaurav Sharma, Vivek Sharma | Tailored for objective segment, focusing on local and allied laws. |
| Vocabulary/English | Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | Systematic lessons for strengthening vocabulary for law aspirants. |
| Hindi Language | Samanya Hindi | Hardev Bahri | Basics of Hindi grammar and composition |
Eligibility Criteria Overview
To apply for the Civil Judge post, candidates must meet specific age, educational, and nationality requirements.
| Criteria | Requirement Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Must be an Indian citizen. |
| Educational Qualification | Must hold an LLB degree or equivalent recognized by the Bar Council of India (BCI). |
| Minimum Age | 22 years. |
| Maximum Age | 35 years (Age calculated as of the application closing date, January 5, 2025). |
| Age Relaxation (Reserved Categories) | SC/ST/OBC candidates of Himachal Pradesh receive a relaxation of 3 years (maximum age 38 years). |
| Maximum Attempts | No official limit, provided the age criteria are met. |
