KATHMANDU: Just eight candidates out of 43 posts for District Judges passed the test administered by the Judicial Service Commission in mid-May. Under the inclusive quotas, just one candidate succeeded under the Indigenous quota, with no successful candidates from the women, Madhesi, Dalit, or disabled categories. The written examination, held from May 9 to May 12, 2024, had applicants from various backgrounds, but only four from the internal open category passed.

The exam included 21 applicants from the internal open, 12 from the open, four women, two indigenous, two Madhesi, one Dalit, and one disabled person. Despite 12 passing candidates being selected for judicial service, only eight were shortlisted for interviews due to duplicate names in the internal and open categories. The provision allowed candidates with at least eight years of judicial service experience to take the exam, and 203 individuals participated.

Spokesperson Ashok Kumar Chhetri mentioned that interviews are scheduled for those who passed the written test, with recommendations for district judge appointments following successful interviews. He noted that 39 women applied for the exam, and while fewer female competitors may have influenced inclusiveness outcomes, the trend of women entering the judicial service is increasing.

Currently, there are 43 women judges in the country, with 21 women serving as district judges, including two at the Supreme Court and a woman chief judge at a high court. The constitution mandates that district court judges are appointed by the Chief Justice based on Judicial Council recommendations, with 20% of positions filled by officers with a law degree and at least three years in a gazetted second-class position. The remaining 40% are filled through open competitive exams conducted by the Judicial Service Commission.