The Supreme Court has agreed to review a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) requesting the establishment of a distinct Revenue Judicial Service cadre by the Centre and states. The plea, filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, emphasizes the necessity of setting minimum legal qualifications for officers handling land disputes. Upadhyay highlighted that many land-related issues are currently handled by officers lacking formal legal education, which raises concerns about violating constitutional articles.
The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, acknowledged the significance of the matter during the hearing. Upadhyay, presenting the case in person, stressed the urgency of addressing this issue, particularly in rural areas where litigants face challenges due to inadequate legal expertise among adjudicating officers. The court, while recognizing that the subject matter may primarily fall under legislative jurisdiction, issued a notice to be returned in four weeks.
The PIL underscores that a significant portion of civil litigation in India pertains to land and property disputes, often decided by non-judicial officers without proper legal training. This practice leads to inconsistent, delayed, and legally questionable judgments. The petition advocates for the establishment of a separate judicial cadre specialized in resolving land disputes, along with uniform legal qualifications and judicial training for adjudicating officers, under the supervision of High Courts.
