The District and Sessions Judge works directly under the administrative control of the:

Under Article 235 of the Constitution, the control over district courts and courts subordinate to them is vested in the High Court of the state.

What Article 235 covers:

• Control over district courts includes the posting, promotion and grant of leave to judicial officers.
• The High Court also supervises their work, conducts inspections and can take disciplinary action, subject to the rules of service.
• This ensures that the lower judiciary remains independent of the executive.

Appointment of District Judges:

• Under Article 233, the Governor appoints District Judges in consultation with the High Court.
• A person who is not already in government service can be appointed a District Judge only if they have been an advocate for at least seven years and are recommended by the High Court.
• Other judicial officers are appointed by the Governor under Article 234, in consultation with the State Public Service Commission and the High Court.

The District Judge as head of the district judiciary:

• The District Judge is the highest judicial authority in the district.
• When dealing with civil cases, the judge is called the District Judge; when dealing with criminal cases, the same judge is called the Sessions Judge.
• The Sessions Judge can pass any sentence authorised by law, but a death sentence must be confirmed by the High Court.

Structure of the lower courts:

• On the civil side: District Judge, Civil Judge (Senior Division) and Civil Judge (Junior Division).
• On the criminal side: Sessions Judge, Additional Sessions Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Judicial Magistrates.

Articles 233 to 237:

These articles in Chapter VI of Part VI deal with the courts below the High Court.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Governor appoints District Judges but does not exercise day-to-day control over them.
• ✗The State Law Department and the Chief Minister belong to the executive and have no control over judicial officers.