Difference Between Civil Judge and District Judge

A judicial officer starts his career as a Civil Judge (junior division). Civil judges will get promoted to the next level based on their seniority and merit, i.e., District Judge.

Most of you might get confused about the difference between Civil Judge and District Judge? If yes, you are in the right place!

Read through the post that will give you a complete insight into civil and district judges' powers, salary, roles, and responsibilities.

Difference Between Roles and Responsibilities of a Civil Judge and District Judge

A civil judge, also known as Judicial Magistrate/ District Munsif, deals with civil and criminal cases.

District Judges deals with civil and criminal cases appealed from the civil judge (senior division), sessions cases committed by Judicial Magistrate, Criminal appeals from Judicial Magistrate, other special cases under Special Acts. 

District Judge can also act as Sessions Judge, a civil judge under the senior division category. 

While dealing with civil cases, a judge will be referred to as District Judge and while sitting in criminal cases, he will be referred to as Sessions Judge.

Difference Between Salary of a Civil Judge and District Judge

The salary varies for Civil Judges and District Judges based on their merit and seniority. Have a look at the table below to get an idea about the salary of a Judge in the lower judiciary.

Position	Current pay scale
Junior Civil Judge/First Class Magistrate	₹27700 – ₹44700
Junior Civil Judge/First Class Magistrate  ACP (Assured Career Progression)* after first 5 years	₹33090 – ₹45850
Junior Civil Judge/First Class Magistrate  II ACP* 5 years after 1st ACP	₹39530 – ₹54010
Senior Civil Judge	₹39530 – ₹54010
Senior Civil Judge ACP* after first 5 years	₹43690 – ₹56470
Senior Civil Judge II ACP* 5 years after 1st ACP	₹51550 – ₹63010
District Judge	₹51550 – ₹63070
District Judge - Selection Grade after 5 years of Entry Grade	₹57700 – ₹70290
District Judge Super Time Scale – 3 years after Selection Grade	₹70290 – ₹76450

Apart from the fixed salary, judges are entitled to get many other perks and allowances such as

Government Residence and Maintenance 

The minimum plinth area of the residential accommodation shall be provided as follows:

• District Judge: 2500 sq. feet
• Civil Judge: 2000 sq. feet

Additional annual funds of Rs. 10 Lakhs will be provided for District Judges for the general maintenance of officers, and staff residents, court.

Civil Judges are provided with earmarked bungalows (6BHK generally). If bungalows are not available for some reason, a minimum of 5 BHK flats are provided.

Security

CivilJudges have the facility of 24*7 gunmen and home guards while the District Judges are provided with two gunmen and four/five members of arms guards at residence.

District Judges are also provided with escort vehicles from the District / Area Police headquarters when they go for inspection or another duty purpose at various places of their districts. 

Conveyance

CivilJudges are provided with independent sedan vehicles whereas District Judges are provided with three vehicles, some state four – SUV for the official purpose to terrain places, Sedan for the office of PDJ, another car for other official work.

Electricity and water Charges

Civil Judges (junior division and senior division) are granted electricity charges up to 6000 units/year & water charges up to 336 Kls per year.

District Judges electricity charges up to 8000 units/year & water charges up to 420 Kls per year on government expenditure.

Telephone Allowance and Gadgets

District Judges are provided with residential landline and broadband facilities up to Rs.1500 per month and it is Rs.1000 for Civil Judges.

Also, Rs. 30,000 is provided to District Judges for provision to purchase a mobile handset Whereas Civil Judges are entitled to get Rs. 20,000.

Newspaper and Magazine Allowance

District Judges are entitled to get reimbursement of Rs. 1000 per month for two newspapers and two magazines.

Civil Judges shall be given reimbursement of Rs. 700 per month for two newspapers and one magazine.