Judicial Service Examination
Himachal Pradesh SYLLABUS
Based on the authoritative syllabus compilation provided by EdVidhi. Candidates should verify the latest official recruitment notification issued by the concerned High Court / authority before applying.
Exam Stages
Prelims + Mains + Interview
Mains Papers
3 Papers
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EXAM PATTERN AT A GLANCE
PRELIMS
Duration: 1 Hour each paper
MAINS
Papers: 3
INTERVIEW
Marks: 150
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Duration
1 Hour each paper
Prelims Subjects & Topics
Three papers of 100 Marks each: Civil Law I, Civil Law II, Criminal Law (same syllabus as mains)
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Three papers of 100 Marks each: Civil Law I, Civil Law II, Criminal Law (same syllabus as mains)
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
MAINS EXAMINATION
Paper 1 - Civil Law I
200 Marks
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
Code of Civil Procedure
- •Jurisdiction of Civil Courts (Sec 9), Res Judicata (Sec 11) & Res Sub-Judice (Sec 10)
- •Place of Suing (Secs 15–20), Institution of Suits & Summons (Order V)
- •Pleadings (Order VI), Plaint (Order VII) & Written Statement / Counter-Claim (Order VIII)
- •Appearance of Parties, Ex-Parte Decrees & Setting Aside Remedies (Order IX)
- •Framing of Issues (Order XIV) & Disposal of Suits at First Hearing (Order XV)
- •Temporary Injunctions & Interlocutory Orders (Order XXXIX)
- •Execution of Decrees and Orders (Secs 36–74, Order XXI)
- •Appeals (First Appeal - Sec 96, Second Appeal - Sec 100), Reference, Review & Revision (Sec 115)
- •Civil Judgment Writing & Decree Preparation (Order XX)
Indian Evidence Act
- •Relevancy of Facts: Res Gestae (Sec 6), Motive, Preparation & Conduct (Sec 8), Alibi (Sec 11)
- •Admissions & Confessions: Confession to Police (Secs 25–26) & Discovery of Fact (Sec 27)
- •Statements by Persons who cannot be called: Dying Declarations (Sec 32(1))
- •Expert Opinion (Sec 45) & Relevancy of Character
- •Primary vs Secondary Evidence & Special Provisions for Electronic Records (Sec 65B)
- •Burden of Proof (Secs 101–111) & Statutory Presumptions (Secs 113A, 113B, 114A)
- •Doctrine of Estoppel (Secs 115–117)
- •Competency & Examination of Witnesses: Chief, Cross-Examination, Leading Questions & Hostile Witness
Indian Stamp Act
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Indian Stamp Act
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
Specific Relief Act
- •Recovery of Possession of Movable & Immovable Property (Secs 5–8)
- •Specific Performance of Contracts & Defences (Secs 9–16, Substituted Performance Sec 20)
- •Rectification, Rescission & Cancellation of Instruments (Secs 26–31)
- •Declaratory Decrees (Secs 34–35)
- •Preventive Relief: Temporary, Perpetual & Mandatory Injunctions (Secs 36–42)
Paper 2 - Civil Law II
200 Marks
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
Indian Contract Act
- •Formation of Contract: Proposal, Acceptance, Revocation & Consideration (Sec 2(d), Sec 25)
- •Free Consent: Coercion, Undue Influence, Fraud, Misrepresentation & Mistake (Secs 15–22)
- •Void Agreements, Contingent Contracts & Quasi-Contracts (Secs 68–72)
- •Performance and Discharge of Contract & Doctrine of Frustration (Sec 56)
- •Remedies for Breach of Contract: Liquidated Damages & Compensation (Secs 73–75)
- •Special Contracts: Indemnity, Guarantee, Bailment, Pledge & Agency
Hindu Law
- •Sources & Schools of Hindu Law (Mitakshara & Dayabhaga)
- •Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: Ceremonies, Restitution of Conjugal Rights, Void/Voidable Marriages & Divorce
- •Hindu Succession Act, 1956: Intestate Succession, Coparcenary Rights of Daughters (2005 Amendment) & Stridhan
- •Hindu Adoption & Maintenance Act, 1956: Valid Adoption & Maintenance of Dependants
- •Hindu Minority & Guardianship Act, 1956: Natural Guardians & Legal Powers
- •Joint Hindu Family & Coparcenary: Karta's Powers, Alienation of Property & Partition
Indian Limitation Act
- •Bar of Limitation (Sec 3) & Extension / Condonation of Delay (Sec 5)
- •Legal Disability (Secs 6–8) & Continuous Running of Time (Sec 9)
- •Computation of Limitation Period: Exclusion of Time in Legal Proceedings (Secs 12–15)
- •Effect of Written Acknowledgment (Sec 18) & Part-Payment (Sec 19)
- •Acquisition of Ownership by Possession / Prescription (Secs 25–27)
Transfer of Property Act
- •General Principles of Transfer: Transferable Property, Rule Against Perpetuity (Sec 14)
- •Vested Interest (Sec 19) vs Contingent Interest (Sec 21)
- •Doctrine of Election (Sec 35), Ostensible Owner (Sec 41) & Lis Pendens (Sec 52)
- •Fraudulent Transfer (Sec 53) & Doctrine of Part Performance (Sec 53A)
- •Sales & Mortgages: Right of Redemption (Sec 60), Clog on Redemption, Foreclosure & Sale
- •Leases of Immovable Property (Secs 105–117), Exchanges, Gifts (Secs 122–129) & Actionable Claims
H.P. Urban Rent Control Act
- •Definitions: Premises, Landlord, Tenant, Standard Rent & Lawful Additions
- •Grounds of Eviction: Non-Payment of Rent, Subletting, Bona Fide Personal Requirement
- •Powers, Duties and Procedures of Rent Controller / Rent Controlling Authority
- •Appeals, Revision and Summary Procedure for Quick Eviction
Paper 3 - Criminal Law
200 Marks
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
Indian Penal Code
- •General Explanations, Common Intention (Sec 34) vs Common Object (Sec 149)
- •General Exceptions (Secs 76–106) & Right of Private Defence
- •Inchoate Offences: Abetment (Secs 107–120) & Criminal Conspiracy (Secs 120A–120B)
- •Offences Against Public Tranquility: Unlawful Assembly, Rioting & Affray (Secs 141–160)
- •Offences Affecting Human Body: Culpable Homicide (Sec 299) vs Murder (Sec 300), Hurt, Kidnapping & Rape
- •Offences Against Property: Theft, Extortion, Robbery, Dacoity, Criminal Breach of Trust & Cheating
- •Offences Relating to Marriage (Sec 498A), Forgery (Sec 463) & Defamation (Sec 499)
Criminal Procedure Code
- •Constitution & Hierarchy of Criminal Courts and Powers (Secs 6–25A)
- •Arrest of Persons & Rights of Arrested Persons (Secs 41–60A)
- •Process to Compel Appearance: Summons, Warrants, Proclamation & Attachment
- •Maintenance of Wives, Children and Parents (Section 125)
- •Information to Police, FIR (Sec 154), Police Investigation & Charge Sheet (Sec 173)
- •Cognizance of Offences & Complaints to Magistrates (Secs 190–203)
- •Framing of Charges & Joinder of Charges (Secs 211–224)
- •Trial Procedures: Sessions Trial, Warrant Cases, Summons Cases & Summary Trials
- •Bail Provisions: Bailable (Sec 436), Non-Bailable (Sec 437) & Anticipatory Bail (Sec 438)
- •Criminal Appeals, Reference, Revision & Inherent Powers of High Court (Sec 482)
- •Criminal Framing of Charges & Judgment Writing
Chapter XVII (sections 138 to 143) of Negotiable Instruments Act
- •Promissory Notes, Bills of Exchange & Cheques: Distinctions and Essential Features
- •Negotiation, Endorsement, Holder & Holder in Due Course (Secs 8–9)
- •Dishonour of Cheques for Insufficiency of Funds (Chapter XVII, Secs 138–142)
- •Statutory Notice, Cause of Action, Presumptions (Secs 118, 139) & Summary Trial Procedure
H.P. Excise Act-2011
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under H.P. Excise Act-2011
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
Wild Life Protection Act
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Wild Life Protection Act
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
Indian Forest Act
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Indian Forest Act
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
LANGUAGE & TRANSLATION
Paper 4 - English Composition
150 Marks
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
ESSAY (100 Marks)
- •Essay Writing on Contemporary Socio-Legal, Constitutional and National Issues
- •Legal Précis Writing & Summarization of Judicial Decisions
- •Legal Translation: English to Vernacular / Hindi & Vernacular to English
- •Legal Grammar, Idiomatic Expressions, Sentence Correction & Legal Vocabulary
Translation of Hindi Passage into English (50 Marks)
- •Essay Writing on Contemporary Socio-Legal, Constitutional and National Issues
- •Legal Précis Writing & Summarization of Judicial Decisions
- •Legal Translation: English to Vernacular / Hindi & Vernacular to English
- •Legal Grammar, Idiomatic Expressions, Sentence Correction & Legal Vocabulary
Paper 5 - Language (Hindi)
100 Marks
Subjects & Syllabus Topics
Translation of English passage into Hindi (30 Marks)
- •Essay Writing on Contemporary Socio-Legal, Constitutional and National Issues
- •Legal Précis Writing & Summarization of Judicial Decisions
- •Legal Translation: English to Vernacular / Hindi & Vernacular to English
- •Legal Grammar, Idiomatic Expressions, Sentence Correction & Legal Vocabulary
Essay in Hindi on any topic (50 Marks)
- •Essay Writing on Contemporary Socio-Legal, Constitutional and National Issues
- •Legal Précis Writing & Summarization of Judicial Decisions
- •Legal Translation: English to Vernacular / Hindi & Vernacular to English
- •Legal Grammar, Idiomatic Expressions, Sentence Correction & Legal Vocabulary
Composition (Idioms and Corrections etc.) (20 Marks)
- •Key statutory provisions, statutory interpretations and landmark judicial precedents under Composition (Idioms and Corrections etc.) (20 Marks)
- •Practical application, procedural aspects and conceptual problems for Judicial Service examination
INTERVIEW / VIVA-VOCE
150
Marks
Interview marks are added to the written examination score to prepare the final merit list.
STATE-SPECIFIC LAWS
The following laws and topics are specific to the Himachal Pradesh Judiciary syllabus and are thoroughly covered in EdVidhi's state module:
- Himachal Pradesh Courts Act, 1976
- H.P. Urban Rent Control Act
- H.P. Excise Act-2011
- Wild Life Protection Act
- Indian Forest Act
WHAT MAKES THIS SYLLABUS DIFFERENT?
- →Prelims consists of 3 separate papers
- →Includes Wildlife Protection Act and Indian Forest Act
- →Includes H.P. Excise Act and H.P. Courts Act
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