India, Oct. 9 -- A constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday held that serving judicial officers who have previously practised as advocates for seven years are eligible to apply for district judge posts under the quota reserved for the Bar, in a judgment that could reshape district judiciary recruitment across the country.

A five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai, and comprising Justices MM Sundresh, Aravind Kumar, Satish Chandra Sharma and K Vinod Chandran, ruled that interpreting Article 233(2) of the Constitution to exclude such officers would be discriminatory and contrary to the objective of maintaining quality in judicial service.

The judgment, delivered through separate but concurring opinions by...