Writing judgments is a crucial component of the judicial services test. Regardless of the test type—junior division, civil judge, or higher judicial services—you may encounter questions about drafting judgments. You must be well-versed in all substantive and procedural legislation, including the Sale of Goods Act, Contract Act, and Civil Procedure Code, before you may try judgment writing questions.
Keep in mind that judgment writing is similar to a step-marking mathematical problem. Your chances of being selected for the test will thus be greatly increased if you follow the correct structure of a court's ruling and attempt each stage of the judgment. Our specialists at Lloyd have selected the most significant judgments for judicial exams to make your study easier.
What're you waiting for, then? Examine the key rulings and review the most important rulings to refresh your legal knowledge.
Definition of Judgment
The definition of judgment under Section 2(9) of the Civil Procedure Code of 1908 is "the statement issued by the court based on a decree or order." It indicates that a judge renders a judgment based on the case's merits.
Most Important Judgments for Judiciary Exams 2026
You must take a quick look at the most important judgments of judiciary exams 2026 before moving on to the judgment writing question. Some of the most significant judgment writing questions for the upcoming judiciary exams is listed here.
Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)
- Overturned AK Gopalan's case, ruling that "Due Process of Law" is a part of "Procedure Established by Law"
- Legislation ought to be Just, Reasonable, and Equitable
- The Golden Triangle (Articles 14, 19, and 21) shall not be broken by a law that restricts personal freedom
Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975)
- It was decided that the 39th Amendment, which established elections for the president, vice president, prime minister, and speakers of the legislature, was unconstitutional
- For the first time, the Basic Structure Doctrine was mentioned and reaffirmed
- Nevertheless, the Allahabad High Court's ruling was reversed
The BerubariUnion Case (1960)
- The preamble is not a part of the Constitution
- Parliament cannot enact legislation under Article 3 to carry out the Nehru-Noon agreement
- The result of this was the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution
Shankari Prasad Singh Deo v. Union of India (1951)
- The First Amendment to the Constitution is enforceable
- For Article 13, a constitutional amendment is not "law"
- The definitions of "Constitutional Amendment" and "Ordinary Law"
Champakam Dorairajan v. State of Madras (1951)
- Maintained the ruling of the Madras High Court, which invalidated the 1927 GO
- The GO had made reservations for college seats and government employment
- As a result, the First Amendment to the Constitution was passed
A. K. Gopalanv. State of Madras (1950)
- Section 14 of the Preventive Detention Act of 1950 (exception) was upheld
- The grounds for detention could only be disclosed under Section 14
- 'Due Process of Law' doesn’t include 'Procedure Established by Law'
Hamdard Dwarakhana v. Union of India (1959)
- It ruled that the Drugs & Magical Remedies Act's Sections 3 and 8 are constitutional
- Article 19(1)(a) does not grant the right to print commercial ads
- Physical damage from self-medication and unethical advertising are causally related
Kesavananda Bharti v. State of Kerala (1973)
- The 'Basic Structure' cannot be changed by the parliament
- Articles 368(3) and 13(4) were legitimate
- As a result, Articles 368(4) and (5) were added, and the 42nd Amendment was passed
Mohd. Hanif Qureshi v. State of Bihar (1958)
- Articles 19 and 25 of the legislation governing the slaughter of cattle in Bihar, U.P., and MP do not infringe them
- Although the slaughter of "useless cattle" was permitted and the complete prohibition was unconstitutional, the sacrifice of cows on Bakr-Eid is not fundamental to Islam
E. P. Royappa v. State of Tamilnadu (1973)
- Expansion of the equality notion
- The idea of equality is dynamic and cannot be reduced to conventional bounds
- Arbitrariness is the opposite of equality
Ranjit Udeshiv. State of Maharashtra (1964)
- The IPC's Section 292, which prohibited the selling of pornographic literature, was maintained
- The Hicklin test was used to determine if the content deprives and corrupts those whose brains are susceptible to such immoral effects and under whose control a publication of this kind may end up
- In the 2004 case of Aveek Sarkar v. State of West Bengal, the Hicklin test was dismissed
Romesh Thapar v. State of Madras (1950)
- One aspect of freedom of speech and expression is the ability to freely spread ideas, which can only be accomplished through circulation
- Article 19 (1) (a) is violated by the order
- Section 9(1-A) of the Madras Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1949, was subject to the severability rule
Madhav Rao Scindia v. Union of India (1970)
- It was decided that the presidential edict that denied the former Indian State rulers their rights was unconstitutional
- Since the property was owned by the Privy Purse, it could not be confiscated in any way other than by executive authority
- Articles 291 and 362 of the 26th Amendment, 1971, were repealed
Golaknath v. Union of India (1967)
- Parliament cannot change any Fundamental Right under chapter III
- Ordinary legislation and constitutional amendments are the same thing
- As a result, the 24th Amendment was ratified in 1971
Rev. Stanislaus v. State of MP (1977)
- "Convert" is not included in the definition of "Propogate" under Article 25
- Forcible conversions would violate the "Freedom of Conscience" guaranteed by Article 25
- Laws passed by MP and Orissa that forbade conversion by coercion, deception, or allurement were upheld
Best Way to Draft Judgment for Judiciary Exams
The Civil Judge examinations require two different styles of judgment writing. There are two types of judgment writing: one for civil matters and the other for criminal ones. To get the best score possible on the Judicial Services Exam, pay attention to the following Judiciary Writing Tips.
- The primary prerequisite is a thorough understanding of all substantive and procedural legislation, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)law, the Contract Act, the Civil Procedure Code, the Sale of Goods Act, and others.
- Another crucial component that might help you produce an outstanding judgment and receive high grades is having a thorough understanding of the Indian Evidence Act.
- Judicial Services' judgment writing is similar to a step-marked math problem. Therefore, following the correct structure for writing a court's judgment and trying every step of the process can greatly improve your grades.
- Refrain from using specialized legal terminology or jargon. Make use of straightforward language that is understandable to everybody.
- Examine the format and examples of judgment writing, and practice writing the same type of questions from past years' judicial examinations.
- To make sure you don't overlook any important details, carefully study all of the information provided in the question before trying the judgment. Take a moment to prepare a basic framework for your judgment essay, being sure not to exclude any important details.
- Be succinct and only write what is required. Avoid repeating yourself and don't worry about how long your response is; if you have covered all the important elements, you will receive credit. Contrary to common opinion, the most important portion of the Mains response in the judicial examinations is not the ultimate conclusion in the presented facts (such as acquittal or conviction in a criminal case).
Conclusion
Mastering and writing a perfect judgment writing is one of the most important and essential skill for judicial service aspirants. Aspirants can boost the chances of their success by practicing judgment drafting and understanding key case laws. Generally, state-Judiciary exams not only tests legal knowledge but also check the ability to apply laws effectively in written judgments. Studying landmark cases, such as Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India and Kesavananda Bharti v. State of Kerala, provide valuable insights into constitutional principles and legal precedents.
Additionally, practicing judgment writing—both for civil and criminal cases—while following a logical structure and clear language is crucial. By refining these skills and staying updated with important legal rulings, aspirants can confidently approach the examination and excel in their judicial careers. Stay dedicated, practice consistently, and use the right strategies to secure a top rank in the Judiciary exam.