How To Prepare For HJS Exam - Complete Guide

The Haryana Judicial Services (HJS) examination is a prestigious and challenging competitive exam that selects candidates for appointment as District Judges in the Haryana Subordinate Courts. Aspiring judges often consider the Haryana Judicial Services exam as their ultimate goal in pursuing a fulfilling career in the Indian judiciary.

Preparing for the Haryana Judicial Services exam demands a comprehensive approach that encompasses a thorough understanding of legal concepts, strong analytical skills, and unwavering dedication. This detailed blog will provide you with a step-by-step strategy to effectively prepare for the HJS exam and achieve your aspirations.

Aspiring judges often consider the Haryana Judicial Services (HJS) exam as the pinnacle of their journey toward a fulfilling career in the legal field. This prestigious competitive exam selects candidates for appointment as District Judges in the Haryana Subordinate Court. The HJS exam is a rigorous and demanding process that requires thorough preparation, unwavering dedication, and a deep understanding of legal concepts. This blog post will provide a complete guide on how to prepare for the HJS Exam, covering everything from the exam pattern and syllabus to the best study materials and preparation tips.

Haryana Judicial Services Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Before delving into the preparation strategy, it is crucial to grasp the HJS exam pattern. The Preliminary Exam is an objective-type test that assesses the candidate’s general knowledge, legal aptitude, and English language proficiency. The Mains Exam is a subjective-type test that evaluates the candidate’s depth of legal knowledge and writing skills. It covers many legal subjects, including Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, and General Law. The third stage is the interview, which assesses the candidate’s personality, temperament, and suitability for the role of a judge.

The Haryana Judicial Services Examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview.

HJS Preliminary Exam Pattern-

Question paper with multiple choice questions representing the objective nature of the Preliminary stage-
The Preliminary Exam is an objective-type exam consisting of 125 questions with four marks each. The total marks for the Preliminary Exam are 500. The Preliminary Exam is qualifying in nature.
The duration of the preliminary exam is 2 hours.
There is a negative marking of 0.80 for every wrong answer.

HJS Preliminary Exam Syllabus

Subjects	Important topics
Current Affairs	National and International current affairsImportant events and developments in India and around the worldSocial, economic, and political issues
Indian Legal History	Evolution of the Indian legal systemImportant landmark cases and judgmentsContributions of prominent legal luminaries
Constitutional Development	Framing of the Indian ConstitutionBasic Structure of the Indian ConstitutionFundamental rights, directive principles, and fundamental dutiesPowers and functions of the legislature, executive, and judiciary
Civil Law-I	CPCContract ActPartnership ActSales Of Goods ActSpecific Relief ActIndian Evidence ActPunjab Courts ActHaryana Urban (control of rent & eviction ) ACT, 1973
Civil Law-II	Hindu Law Mohammedan Law (study the customary law of Haryana and Punjab also)Law of RegistrationLimitation Act
Criminal Law	IPCCrPcIndian Evidence Act

HJS Mains Exam Pattern-

Question paper with long answer type questions, representing the descriptive nature of the Mains Exam

The Mains Exam is a descriptive-type exam consisting of 5 papers of 200 marks each and 1 paper of 100 marks. The total marks for the Mains Exam are 900.
After being successful in the Mains Exam, the candidates are then shortlisted for the Interview based on their performance in the Mains Exam.

HJS Mains Exam Syllabus-

The Mains Exam Syllabus covers the following topics:

SECTION	SUBJECTS	WEIGHTAGE OF MARKS
Civil Law I	CPCContract ActPartnership ActSales Of Goods ActSpecific Relief ActIndian Evidence ActPunjab Courts ActHaryana Urban (control of rent & eviction ) ACT, 1973	200
Civil Law II	Hindu Law Mohammedan Law (study the customary law of Haryana and Punjab also)Law of RegistrationLimitation Act	200
Criminal Law	IPCCrPcIndian Evidence Act	200
English Composition	EssayPrecis writingComprehensionCorrectionsWords & phrases	200
Language (Hindi)	Translation of English passage to HindiHindi Essay, Idioms, and Corrections	100

Also Read: Haryana Judiciary Services Exam Eligibility 2023 – Age Limit And Qualifications

How To Prepare For The HJS Exam

Start early: Embark on your preparation journey well in advance, ideally at least a year or 8 months before the scheduled exam date. This will provide ample time to cover the extensive syllabus and develop a deep understanding of the subjects.
Make a study plan: Create a detailed study plan outlining your daily and weekly goals, ensuring you allocate sufficient time for each subject.
Consistency: Be consistent with your studies and stick to your study plan.
Use the right study materials: Use the right materials, including bare acts, textbooks, and previous year’s papers.
Solve Haryana judiciary’s previous year questions: Solve as many previous year and practice questions as possible. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and improve your time management skills. You should practise 1 question paper daily to get a grip on the prelims exam.
Take mock tests: Take mock tests regularly to assess your preparation and to identify areas where you need to improve.

Conquering at The Prelims Stage of The HJS Exam:

The prelims stage assesses your knowledge and understanding of legal statutes and current affairs.

To conquer the prelims stage, you must be thoroughly aware of legal and general current affairs.
To thoroughly understand the prelims syllabus, start your preparation early on. So that you have an ample amount of time left for revision.
Be updated with the past 5-6 months of current gk before the exam to have correct knowledge about it.
Stay updated on current affairs: Read newspapers, watch news channels, and follow reliable online sources and monthly magazines to stay abreast of national and international events.
For newspapers, you can refer to The Hindu; for monthly current affairs, refer to Pratiyogita Darpan magazine.
Stay abreast of recent legal developments by regularly reviewing the latest rulings and amendments issued by the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.
You should have a thorough knowledge of legal statutes and provisions. Do not mug up the bare act. Instead, understand the core concept of a particular provision.
Thorough understanding of the Constitution: Devote ample time to understand the Constitution of India, its fundamental rights, and its role in shaping the Indian legal system.
Before starting your preparation, you should know your strengths and weaknesses and work more diligently on your weaknesses.
During your preparation for prelims, practise multiple-choice question papers daily so that you have a knack for the exam pattern and the questions asked in the exam.
After doing question papers, evaluate your answers and work on your weaknesses. That will help you improve yourself and prepare for the exam.
Below, we are providing some questions for you to get an understanding of the pattern from various previous year question papers:

1. To inculcate reading habit among students, which mission has been initiated by the state Government of Haryana?

(a) Read More Lead More — Haryana

(b) Reading to leading — Haryana

(c) Reading Mission — Haryana

(d) Read to learn — Haryana

2. Which is the first country to make broadband a legal right for every citizen?

(a) England

(b) Finland

(c) Denmark

(d) China

3. Ecology deals with:

(a) Birds

(b) Cell formation

(c) Relation between the organisms and their environment

(d) Tissues

4. Who among the following is the Chairman of the Bar Council of India?

(a) Manan Kumar Mishra

(b) Apurba Kumar Sharma

(c) Prashant Kumar Singh

(d) Ashok Kumar Deb

5. In which among the following cases the Supreme Court refused to vacate its order allowing women candidates to appear for the National Defence Academy examination this year?

(a) Dr. Apurva Satish Gupta v. Union of India

(b) Kush Kalra v. Union of India

(c) R Rajeshwaran v. Union of India

(d) K Jayakumar v. Union of India.

6. As per the Punjab Courts Act, 1918, the provision for second appeal is mentioned in:

(a) Sec. 40

(b) Sec. 41

(c) Sec. 39

(d) Sec. 43

7. Which of the following statement(s) is correct?

(a) An agreement enforceable by law is a contract

(b) Every promise and every set of promises, forming the consideration for each other, is an agreement

(c) All agreements enforceable by law are contracts and valid. But all agreements are not enforceable by law

(d) All of the above

8. X owes Rs.10,000/- to Y under a contract. It is agreed between X,Y, & Z that shall henceforth accept Z as his debtor instead of X for the same amount. Old debt of X is discharged and a new debt from Z to Y is contracted. This is:

(a) Alteration of contract

(b) Rescission of contract

(c) Novation of contract

(d) Change in contract

9. The definition of “Victim” has been inserted in Cr.P.C. in:

(a) 2008

(b) 2009

(d) 2011

10. Under the Constitution, the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India as per:

(a) Article 40

(b) Article 43

(c) Article 44

(d) Article 48.

Also Read: Time Management for Judiciary Exam Preparation (Expert Tips)

Conquering at The Mains Stage of The HJS Exam

To qualify for the main stage of the HJS Exam, you must inculcate the habit of writing regularly so that during the exam, you don’t lag behind in time.
You should have separate notebooks for note-making and answer-writing so that you have separate material for revising both aspects during the revision. Answer writing should be prepared separately to ace the main exam.
The study materials should be revised every day at the end of the day so that you can grasp whatever you have studied the whole day.
Practice writing answers from question banks daily in a particular time frame to inculcate the habit of writing answers in a restricted time period. It will help you a lot during the day of the exam.
Don’t mug up the topics or legal provisions for essay writing; write from your knowledge gained from current legal affairs and the concept you have learnt. The examiner doesn’t check how many provisions you have mugged up but how much knowledge you have about legal issues. They want to know your opinion/personal perspective on a particular topic.
You should practise judgement writing regularly before the mains exam so that you have a grasp of the topics that you have practised.
Write 10-15 judgement writing case scenarios on different leading topics on which questions can come.
Analyse landmark cases and judgments to understand the application of legal principles in real-world scenarios. This will enhance your problem-solving and analytical skills.
Revise regularly the answers that you have prepared on different topics so that you have a regular grasp of the answers. You will eventually inculcate the habit of writing the answers on time and adequately.
In the HJS Exam, local laws are asked, which have quite a lot of weightage. So do not avoid this section as it’s an important part of the prelims and main exam.
The complex nature of the local laws will confuse you, but they are easy to understand if you refer to YouTube videos and have a mentor wherever you are stuck. The local laws may seem daunting initially, but you will gradually understand the statute by practising questions and understanding the bare act.
Be thorough with bare acts of local and major laws as well, and don’t leave anything untouched because that will make you understand the statute more precisely.
For language section practice writing essays, précis, and comprehension passages for the English and Hindi sections. Also, read English and Hindi newspapers and magazines regularly.
Utilise a variety of study materials, including standard textbooks, commentaries, case studies, and online resources. Join study groups or seek guidance from experienced mentors for additional support.
Below, we are providing some questions for you to understand the pattern from various previous year question papers:

On What grounds can Pleadings be amended, and can an amendment be allowed even if it is barred by limitation?
On what grounds can a Judgement Debtor object to execution of decree for recovery of immovable property?
Explain the meaning of ‘exparte~ decree’ and elaborate on the remedies available to a person against whom an exparte decree is passed?
Under what circumstances is a plaintiff bound to seek a declaration of title in addition to recovery of possession of immovable property?
What is the ‘best evidence’ rule? Elaborate.
What is ‘electronic evidence’? · Explain under what circumstances electronic records are admissible in any Court proceedings without further formal proof or production of the original.
What are the changes made in the Hindu Succession Act 1956 by Act 39 of 2005 as regards succession to ancestral property by a Hindu female? Cite latest case law on the point.
A widower or a bachelor adopts a child. He later marries. What would be the status of the wife viz a viz the child? Give reasons for your answer.
A police report forwarded to the Magistrate under S. 173(2) of the CrPC stated that a person Om Prakash has committed an offence. A protest petition was also filed referring to some statements recorded under S.161 CrPC whereby it was suggested that another person named Sanjiv is also involved in the crime. Magistrate took cognizance under S. 190 (I )(b) CrPC and issued proceedings against both the persons. Sanjiv has challenged the order on the grounds that the Magistrate should have followed the procedure under S. 200 CrPC before issuing proceedings against him as he acted on the protest petition. Decide and give reasons.
What are the principles to be followed by a Court while exercising its powers under Section 427 CrPC. regarding concurrent running of sentences?
Write an essay on any one of the following topics in about I000-1100 words:

i) The Advantages and Pitfalls of Online Education.

ii) Education is a Progressive Discovery of Our Own Ignorance.

Conquering at The Interview Stage of The HJS Exam

Several panels of judges and other senior government officials conduct the interview.
They assess you on various aspects of current legal and world affairs. They ask questions about real-life situations you might encounter as a judicial officer.
General Awareness and Current Affairs: Stay updated with current events, social issues, and general knowledge topics. Demonstrate your well-roundedness and ability to engage in informed discussions.
They assess your perseverance and ability to perform under pressure.
So be prepared to get any type of question, and while answering questions, don’t get scared and nervous.
Self-awareness and Introspection: Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and values. Understand your personality traits and how they align with the qualities of a good judge.
Communication Skills: Practise articulate and confident communication in both written and verbal forms. Enhance your ability to express your thoughts logically and concisely.
Always expand your horizons while preparing for the interview stage, as it involves many questions from various areas of study and life.
Daily analyse landmark cases and judgments to understand the application of legal principles in real-world scenarios. This will enhance your problem-solving and analytical skills.
You should always know about different subject areas, Hindi or English literature, as it develops your analytical skills and overall personality.
Don’t study anything new before the exam because that will not help you. Instead, it will jeopardise your preparation.
Mock Interviews: Participate in mock interviews to practise answering questions related to your career aspirations, legal knowledge, and personal experiences. Seek feedback to refine your responses and presentation style.
Be confident in the interview and work diligently towards becoming a judicial officer.

Also Read: List of NLUs in India 2023 (Top 23 Nlus)

Important Study Materials And Books For The HJS Preparation

There are several study materials available for the HJS Exam. Some of the most popular books and resources include:

The first and foremost study material is Bare Acts. The bare acts are crucial in preparing for your UP PCS J exam. Bare acts are essential for a basic understanding of the subject, and many questions come from plain acts provision.
Textbooks: Many good books are available for each subject in the syllabus. Textbooks work as a reference to the bare acts to understand the provisions in a precise manner.
HJS Exam Previous Year Papers: Solving the previous year’s papers is one of the best ways to prepare for the UP PCS J Exam.
HJS Exam Mock Test: To assess your preparation and strategy, you should attempt mock tests regularly while preparing for the UP PCS J Exam. It will enhance your practice, and you will be able to attempt the exam in a better way.

Important Books

BOOK NAME	AUTHOR	ABOUT THE BOOK
Constitutional Law of India	JN Pandey	This book will provide a holistic coverage of the whole syllabus. After thoroughly going through the bare act, you should refer to this book for an in-depth understanding of the subject. The book covers all significant landmark judgments with proper analysis that will help you greatly in your preparation.
Indian Constitution Law	MP Jain	This book can also be referred to as the constitution subject as it will give you an in-depth understanding.
The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908	C.K. Takwani	This book covers comprehensive explanations of every provision with illustrations of case laws. The book clears the concept of complex provisions where many get stuck. The case law briefs given are also in simple language to make understanding the concept manageable.
The Evidence Act, 1872\|	Batuklal	The book on the Evidence Act by Batuklal is in easy-to-understand language, which will cover all the intricacies of provisions related to the Evidence Act. The book will provide proper explanations and case briefs to understand the provisions precisely.
The Indian Penal Code, 1860	T. Bhattacharya	This book covers the syllabus with a proper analysis of case laws and illustrations to better understand the complex provisions. The book will help you to gain in-depth knowledge of the subject of IPC. You should refer to this book only after thoroughly reviewing the bare act.
The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973	Ratanlal & Dhirajlal	The criminal law reference books should be considered carefully. You cannot refer to any criminal manual for reference, and you must be careful when referring to any book for guidance. The above-mentioned book covers the provisions of IPC and CrPC thoroughly with complete explanations of the case laws and illustrations.
Contract and Specific Relief	Avtar Singh	The Contract Act is one of the important subjects from which many questions are asked. The above-mentioned book will significantly help as it covers the provisions, case laws, and conceptual explanation of sections. The Bare Act and simultaneously referring to this book will clear your concepts in a proper way.
The Sales of goods act & Indian Partnership Act	Sir Dinshaw Fardunji Mulla	This book covers the syllabus with a proper analysis of case laws and illustrations to better understand the complex provisions. The book will help you to gain in-depth knowledge of both the subjects of the Partnership Act and the sales of Goods Act. You should refer to this book only after thoroughly reviewing the bare act.
Family Law in India	Paras Diwan	Understanding the subject of family law is not that tough. Still, various judicial exams ask tricky questions to test your in-depth knowledge about the subject. For being able to give answers to tricky questions, this book is best to prepare for family law. The book is prepared in simple language with easy-to-understand concepts and illustrations.
WORD POWER MADE EASY(ENGLISH)	NORMAN LEWIS	For Words & phrases, this book is best for memorising any word or phrase that may come in the exam. It also has some sentence correction exercises. The book covers English topics holistically.

HJS Preparation Tips

Clearing the HJS Exam is not easy, but it is possible with hard work and dedication. Follow the preparation tips in this blog post to prepare for the exam and increase your chances of success.

Focus on understanding the concepts: Don’t just try to mug up the laws. Focus on understanding the concepts so that you can apply them to different situations.
Make notes: Make notes as you study. This will help you to revise the study material more easily.
Practice Makes Perfect: Regular practice is the cornerstone of exam success. Engage in solving practice questions from past exams and reference books. This will help you develop speed, accuracy, and the ability to apply legal concepts practically.
To stimulate the exam environment and assess your preparedness, take mock tests periodically. Analyse your performance, identify areas for improvement, and refine your approach accordingly.
As the exam approaches, revision becomes your ally. Summarise key concepts, create concise notes, and revisit challenging topics.
Discuss with friends: Discuss the material with friends and classmates. It will help you to understand the concepts better and to identify any areas where you need clarification. It will also enhance your speaking skills, which will be helpful while preparing for the interview stage.

Some Additional Tips

Time Management: Develop effective time management skills to balance your studies with other commitments. Create a realistic study schedule and stick to it consistently.
Discipline and Consistency: Dedicate yourself to a consistent study routine, even in the face of challenges. Stay disciplined and focused on your goals.
Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritiously, exercising regularly, and getting adequate sleep. A healthy mind and body will enhance your concentration and productivity.
Stress Management: Learn effective stress management techniques, such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.

Also Read: How To Prepare For DJS Exam – Complete Guide

You can also refer to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LawPrepJudiciary, where renowned faculty prepare you for the judicial exams.

Maintain a positive mindset throughout your preparation, believing in your abilities and the power of hard work.

Remember, the HJS Exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Embrace the journey, enjoy the learning process, and approach each challenge with determination and a focused mind. With dedication and perseverance, you can conquer this endeavour and embark on a rewarding career in the judiciary.

All the Best!