Question map
Which one of the following criteria is not required to be qualified for appointment as Judge of the Supreme Court?
Explanation
According to Article 124(3) of the Constitution of India, a person must be a citizen of India to be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court. The specific eligibility criteria include: (a) having served as a Judge of a High Court (or two or more such courts in succession) for at least five years; (b) having been an advocate of a High Court for at least ten years; or (c) being a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President. There is no provision in the Constitution that mentions service as a Sub-Judicial Magistrate, regardless of the duration, as a qualifying criterion for the Supreme Court. While the subordinate judiciary is part of the judicial structure, its members must first be elevated to a High Court and meet the five-year tenure requirement there to become eligible for the apex court.