Skip to main content
Adhikar is an independent citizen-awareness initiative — not a Government of India website.
Safety & Justice Fundamental RightsPolice, Arrest & Criminal JusticeWomen's Rights & SafetyChildren's Rights
Property & Home Land & Property RightsTenant & Landlord RightsCivic & Municipal RightsEnvironmental Rights
Money & Work Consumer RightsBanking & Financial RightsLabour & Employment RightsTraffic & Motor Vehicle Rights
Family & Life Stages Marriage, Family & InheritanceSenior Citizens' RightsDisability RightsHealthcare & Patient Rights
Citizen & Digital Right to Information (RTI)Voting & Political RightsDigital & Cyber RightsEducation Rights
Community & Identity Tribal & Forest RightsLGBTQ+ RightsReligious Freedom & Minority RightsMigrant & Domestic Workers' Rights
Wellbeing & Justice Access Prisoners' & Undertrial RightsMental Health RightsRight to Food & NutritionLegal Aid & Access to Justice
Explore Laws The Constitution, Article by ArticleBNS Explained — What's a CrimeBNSS Explained — Arrest, FIR, BailBSA Explained — EvidenceLandmark Judgments
Resources Which Right Protects You? (Quiz)My Saved RightsPrintable One-PagersKnow Your DocumentsState & UT PortalsRights & Protest FAQs
Find My Right Contact Us
Home The Constitution Part VI Article 233
Art. 233 Part VI: The States

Appointment of District Judges

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Appointments of persons to be, and the posting and promotion of, district judges in any State shall be made by the Governor of the State in consultation with the High Court exercising jurisdiction in relation to such State. (2) A person not already in the service of the Union or of the State shall only be eligible to be appointed a district judge if he has been for not less than seven years an advocate or a pleader and is recommended by the High Court for appointment.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article establishes how District Judges — the senior-most judicial officers at the district level, below the High Court — are appointed: by the Governor, but specifically in consultation with the High Court, with a minimum 7-year advocate/pleader experience requirement for those coming directly from legal practice rather than existing judicial service.
Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is the constitutional foundation for how India's district-level judiciary (the courts most citizens actually interact with for civil and criminal matters) gets its senior judicial leadership, with the High Court's involvement ensuring judicial, not purely executive, input into these appointments.

Related Articles

Read alongside this one

Art. 234 — Recruitment of Persons Other Than District Judges to the Judicial Service
Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 233

Can someone become a District Judge without ever practising as a lawyer?
Yes — this Article's 7-year advocate/pleader requirement specifically applies to those NOT already in Union or State judicial service; existing judicial officers can be promoted to District Judge through a separate, service-based track.
← PreviousArticle 232: (Repealed) InterpretationNext →Article 233A: Validation of Appointments of, and Judgments, etc., Delivered by, Certain District Judges

The text above reproduces Article 233 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.