**Executive Summary**
This notification from the Law and Judiciary Department of the Government of Maharashtra amends the Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) Rules, 2007. The changes, effective from November 21st, 2025, primarily concern the regulation of seniority for District Judge appointments made through the selection process of 2025 and onwards. The notification introduces a new Appendix-IA establishing a forty-point roster for seniority determination.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment Title:** The rules are called the Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2025.
* **Definitions:**
* "Principal rules" refers to the Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) Rules, 2007.
* "Selection Process" is defined as the process of recruitment or promotion, identified by the year to which it pertains, starting with the declaration of vacancies by the Chief Justice and ending with the issuance of notification in the Official Gazette. An example of the selection process for 2023 is provided.
* **Seniority Regulation:**
* For Judicial Officers appointed as District Judges through the selection process of 2025 onwards, seniority will be regulated as per the forty-point roster in Appendix-IA.
* Regarding inter-se-seniority, the higher of 25% or 50% of seniority shall be considered. Inter-se-seniority in 50% promotional appointment will be based on seniority in the cadre of Civil Judge, Senior Division.
* **Fitment in Roster:** Judicial Officers selected to a cadre in a particular selection process by distinct modes of selection will be deemed a homogenous class for fitment in respective rosters.
* **Modification of Rule 6:** Rule 6 is amended to substitute "published by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay and the lists so published" with "published or re-published upon alteration therein, by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay and the lists so published or re-published".
* **Practice Directions:** The Chief Justice may issue written directions in consultation with subject committees, if any, consistent with these rules.
* **Appendix-IA (Forty Points Roster):** A new appendix is inserted, detailing a forty-point roster specifying whether each point is for a Direct Recruit or a Promotee (some through competitive exam).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Judicial Officers of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** New rules dictate how seniority is determined, potentially affecting career progression and postings.
* **Action Required:** Familiarize themselves with the new rules and Appendix-IA, particularly if appointed as District Judges in 2025 or later.
**Stakeholder: High Court of Bombay**
* **Impact:** Responsible for publishing or re-publishing altered lists related to appointments
* **Action Required:** Ensure adherence to the amended rule 6 regarding the publication of lists.
**Stakeholder: Chief Justice**
* **Impact:** Given the authority to issue practice directions consistent with these rules.
* **Action Required:** May need to formulate and issue practice directions as deemed necessary.
**Stakeholder: Appointing Authority**
* **Impact:** Responsible for making appointments based on eligibility and suitability according to the newly defined Selection Process
* **Action Required:** Review the definition of Selection Process to ensure that the process is implemented accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) Rules, 2007: The original rules being amended by this notification.
Constitution of India: The document cited as the source of authority for the Governor of Maharashtra to issue the amendment.
High Court of Bombay: The High Court that was consulted prior to making the rules.
Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2025: The title of the rules being introduced by this notification.
¨¨É½þÉ®úɹ]õÅ ¶ÉɺÉxÉ ®úÉVÉ{ÉjÉ, +ºÉÉvÉÉ®úhÉ ¦ÉÉMÉ SÉÉ®ú-+, Êb÷ºÉ¤åÉ®úú 5, 2025/+OɽþɪÉhÉø 14, ¶ÉEòä 1947 1
RNI No. MAHBIL/2009/31733
¨É½þÉ®úɹ]Åõ ¶ÉɺÉxÉ ®úÉVÉ{ÉjÉ
+ºÉÉvÉÉ®úhÉ ¦ÉÉMÉ SÉÉ®ú--+
´É¹ÉÇ 11, +ÆEòú 152(6)] ¶ÉÖGò´ÉÉ®ú, Êb÷ºÉå¤É®úúõ 5, 2025/+OɽþɪÉhÉ 14, ¶ÉEòä 1947 [{ÉÞ¹`äö 3, ËEò¨ÉiÉ : ¯û{ɪÉä 15.00
+ºÉÉvÉÉ®úhÉ Gò¨ÉÉÆEòú 551
|ÉÉÊvÉEÞòiÉ |ÉEòɶÉxÉ
¨É½þÉ®úɹ]Åõ ¶ÉɺÉxÉÉxÉä EåòpùÒªÉ +ÊvÉÊxɪɨÉÉÆx´ÉªÉä iɪÉÉ®ú Eäò±Éä±Éä
(¦ÉÉMÉ BEò, BEò-+ +ÉÊhÉ BEò-±É ªÉÉƨÉvªÉä |ÉʺÉrù Eäò±Éä±Éä ÊxÉªÉ¨É ´É +Énäù¶É ªÉÉÆ´ªÉÊiÉÊ®úCiÉ) ÊxÉªÉ¨É ´É +Énäù¶É.
LAW AND JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT
Mantralaya, Madam Cama Road, Hutatma Rajguru Chowk, Mumbai 400 032,
Dated 21st November, 2025.
NOTIFICATION
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
No. HCT-1224/1085/C.R.118/Desk-3.— In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso
to article 309 read with article 233 and 235 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of
Maharashtra after consultation with the High Court of Bombay, hereby pleased to make the
following rules to amend the Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) Rules, 2007, namely:—
1. These rules may be called the Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) (Second
Amendment) Rules, 2025.
2. Definitions.- In these rules, unless the context requires otherwise,
(a) ‘‘ principal rules ” means the Maharashtra Judicial Service (Seniority) Rules, 2007.
(b) ‘‘ Selection Process ” means the process of recruitment or promotion of person(s) to or
in the service, as the case may be, so identified by the year to which it pertains, commencing
with the declaration of vacancies by the Chief Justice and ending with the issuance of notification
in the Official Gazette, of appointment of successful, eligible and suitable candidates by the
Appointing Authority.
Example: Selection Process- 2023, means the selection process for the year 2023 and so on.
(1)
¦ÉÉMÉ SÉÉ®ú-+--551-12 ¨É½þÉ®úɹ]õÅ ¶ÉɺÉxÉ ®úÉVÉ{ÉjÉ, +ºÉÉvÉÉ®úhÉ ¦ÉÉMÉ SÉÉ®ú-+, Êb÷ºÉ¤åÉ®úú 5, 2025/+OɽþɪÉhÉø 14, ¶ÉEòä 1947
3. In rule 5 of the principal rules,—
(a) rule 5 shall be renumbered as sub-rule (1) of rule 5;
(b) in sub-rule (1) so renumbered, in proviso, for the words “Senior Civil Judges”,
the words “Civil Judge, Senior Division” shall be substituted;
(c) after sub-rule (1) so renumbered, the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely :—
“ (2) Subject to sub-rule (1), seniority of the Judicial Officers who are appointed in
the cadre of District Judge pursuant to selection process 2025 and onwards shall be
regulated as per forty points roster in Appendix-IA :
Provided that, out of twenty five per cent or fifty per cent of his seniority which is higher
in place shall be considered whereas inter-se-seniority in fifty per cent promotional appointment
will be in accordance with their seniority in the cadre of Civil Judge, Senior Division.”.
4. After rule 5A of the principal rules, the following rule shall be added, namely :—
“5B. Fitment in roster.- Notwithstanding the date of appointment, for the purpose of rule 5 and
5A. Judicial Officers selected to a cadre in a particular selection process by distinct modes of
selection, shall be deemed to be a homogenous class for fitment in the respective rosters
appended to these rules.”
5. In the rule 6 of the principal rules, for the words “ published by the High Court of
Judicature at Bombay and the lists so published” the words “ published or re-published upon
alteration therein, by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay and the lists so published or
re-published ” shall be substituted.
6. After Rule 6, the following rule shall be added, namely :-
“ 7. Practice directions.- The Chief Justice may from time to time in consultation with
such of the subject committees (if any), as he deems fit, issue directions in writing consistent
with these rules for giving effect to these rules.”.
7. After the Appendix-I appended to the principal rules, the following Appendix shall be
inserted, namely :—
Appendix-IA
Forty Points Roster
1. Direct Recruit.
2. Promotee (Through competitive exam).
3. Promotee.
4. Promotee.
5. Direct Recruit.
6. Promotee (Through competitive exam).
7. Promotee.
8. Promotee.
9. Direct Recruit.
10.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
11.Promotee.¨¨É½þÉ®úɹ]õÅ ¶ÉɺÉxÉ ®úÉVÉ{ÉjÉ, +ºÉÉvÉÉ®úhÉ ¦ÉÉMÉ SÉÉ®ú-+, Êb÷ºÉ¤åÉ®úú 5, 2025/+OɽþɪÉhÉø 14, ¶ÉEòä 1947 3
12.Promotee.
13.Direct Recruit.
14.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
15.Promotee.
16.Promotee.
17.Direct Recruit.
18.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
19.Promotee.
20.Promotee.
21.Direct Recruit.
22.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
23.Promotee.
24.Promotee.
25.Direct Recruit.
26.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
27.Promotee.
28.Promotee.
29.Direct Recruit.
30.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
31.Promotee.
32.Promotee.
33.Direct Recruit.
34.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
35.Promotee.
36.Promotee.
37.Direct Recruit.
38.Promotee (Through competitive exam).
39.Promotee.
40.Promotee.”.
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
VILAS SHIVAJI KHANDBAHALE,
Deputy Legal Adviser and Deputy Secretary to the Government.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,
RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD,
MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS,
21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.