Interview with Ms. Annapurna Singh, Civil Judge (JD) in Uttar Pradesh

Ms. Annapurna has recently joined as Civil Judge (JD) in UP Judicial Services after she cleared UP Judicial Service Examination, 2018. She has obtained her degree in Physics Honours from Miranda House, Delhi University in 2014 followed by Bachelor of Law from Campus Law centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi in 2017. She later worked with National Commission for Women as she is firm believer of women’s right in India.   

After greetings, the interviewer on behalf of E-JUSTICE INDIA began the interview of Miss, Annapurna Singh, Civil Judge (JD).

Ques1. Interviewer – How would you introduce yourself to our readers by using 5 adjectives?

Interviewee: Good evening, I am Annapurna, if you asks me to describe myself using adjectives then I would say, I am a smart worker, observer, hard worker, determined, and the most important is that I acknowledge my fear and work on it.

Ques2. Interviewer – As everyone has their own story which brings turning point in their life, So Mam what was your turning point which make you realize that law is your profession or you are made for this profession?

Interviewee: So first of all, I want to make you familiar with the point that I have done my Physics (Hons) i.e. I am from a science background. So after doing my Hons, I was actually going for M.Sc in physics, which a normal student generally do however, I choose to opt for law. I always wished to have a position where I am able to form my opinion on different social issue and where by point of view matter to a lot of people and also from where I can speak from the stage of responsibility and courage. That is the main reason I got into the law and what makes me realize that I can do judgeship, is that I can be more responsible for my own act or for whole life, people look after you (How you work), how you are so calm in stressful environment like crimes rate is high but we still stay calm and act unbiased. So lots of people inspired by what I do. This is the quality what attracted me to enter into this field.

Ques3. Interviewer – Mam can you tell us any events which inspired you to become what are you today?

Interviewee: Lots of events definitely after entering into this field, but not vents actually but qualities attracted me in this field. I played National level football when I was in School so that brings me a lots of confidence when I was young and it helps me to become vocal. Usually girls speak less in class but I was the one who actually questioned a lot in the class , even when I was in a girl’s college. So I learned  that a woman can be more intellectual, how they are working for themselves as well as for others, they are hard workers. These are all the things that change my life in some way or another.

Ques4. Interviewer – What was your overall strategy for UP Judiciary Service Examination? Please guide the readers about the same.

Interviewee: First of all you need to be very thorough with each bare act, your basics should be cleared, whatever you do your basics should be as strong as it can be, where nobody can question you on that.  Secondly, is  you need to be gain knowledge hence you need to be updated, like changes in law, Supreme Court actions or judgments in particular cases, how the interpretation of law is done, it is defiantly a common sense many times. These are the two main things to focus. So first of all you have to be clear prelims for that you need to go through the bare act you cannot be only focusing on applications. After clearing prelims you can go to the applications things, how bare act  can be improvised, the same sections may be applied in different scenarios,  how the same section is misused or have advantage over other section, this is will work for mains. Candidate must work on judgment writing and answer writing. These are the main things you have to be focused in judiciary exams.

Ques5. Interviewer – Were there are any secrets of yours in cracking or exams or life?

Interviewee: See you have to acknowledge how your body and mind works; you have to acknowledge what is the best time which suits you for self study, where you can be efficient and effective, efficient like no other person can be more effective. I used to study at night, I can study for nonstop, night was my unbreakable time. I used to work in the morning and in the nights, I used to study. I read newspaper like Indian express that actually refresh mind also improves my English and also update me what is going around the globe that is also important for judiciary. I used to utilize small things, I go through things many times. You have to do smart work and be efficient. So utilizing the time in the best possible way can actually be the key to crack any exam and not just judiciary.

Ques6. Interviewer – What were the challenges you faced or mistakes you did while preparing for judiciary and how did you overcome them?

Interviewee: So the mistakes I did was before clearing the UP judiciary exam, when I was not able to clear the prelims.  First I acknowledged that what are the things I was not able to do, like what other people have done in same time but you are not able to do, that is what I do. I was used to be productive all the time, so when I worked in morning than too I used to study at night. Also, I didn’t give up the judiciary and I worked on it and crack it. The most important is your willingness to do something rather than just hard work.

Ques7. Interviewer – Not everyone can clear the Judiciary exams in one attempt, it needs patience. So Mam what role was played by your family while you are preparing for the exams?

Interviewee: So my family was not at all expecting from me to clear judiciary. Actually they were very supportive that whatever I am doing, I am doing for myself and that was my motto of my life. I do whatever I fell like doing; nobody can force me to do something. If I am judge I am not doing for anybody else but for me, this actually makes me work better than other people. You have to own a thing, so when you are doing something as you own it, you own it to yourself. So I own judiciary to myself that I have to clear it.

Ques8. Interviewer – Besides the Court room, what other jobs and responsibility does a judge have?

Interviewee: There are various responsibility when you become a judge and one is those is towards the society. Lots of people look after you. Every litigant comes to your court they think that this is the person who is unbiased who seeks justice from you. So you own it to social society that these people are actually looking forward to you for justice with so much hope. So we need to be answerable to the people not by words but by the conduct of yours. This is the assurance we have to give to the society by delivering justice.

Ques9. Interviewer – Truth wins but evils prevail sometimes by legal support .So what are your views on that?

Interviewee: I must say this ,that what Judiciary assure you that no one innocent should go to the jail and it is the motto. Alot of people who do crime are acquitted  due to lack of evidence or some other reason, because accusation does not prove a person guilt, and benefit of doubt always goes to the accused person. And that it because there may a chance that the said crime is not committed by the person accused. Judiciary cannot do something to make a person miserable who is not proved beyond doubts to have being committed the crime (a good person into bad person). So definitely truth prevail  but sometimes evil prevail because they are acquitted .It is not something that an innocent is in the jail/custody. 

Ques10. Interviewer – So to what extend you are passionate about justice being done? 

Interviewee: Justice needs to be done ,but it is also needs to do be seen , seen means society actually acknowledge it .So I think in this way , that justice needs to be delivered. When decree is passed, it must be executed for proper effect of the said decree. Also execution takes lots of  efforts and all the three  bodies have to be synchronized to do work. So, I would prefer that from my judgement, justice can be seen manifestly.

Ques11. Interviewer – What would you suggest to those students who are in future going for Judiciary?

 Interviewee: Do smart work and believe on yourself that you can achieve it. Have a clear vision and there is no set of rules for clearing a exam. You just need to focus on your goal and work hard for it.  Always have a belief that good things will happen or going to happen, whatever it takes. For Judiciary, you have to have a positive personality with good belief system .Your patience will result into something good , also you need to do hard work. Whatever time you are giving to it, utilize it to the fullest without any doubts.

Vote of thanks to Miss. Annapurna Singh, Civil Judge (JD), for sharing her experience and knowledge with us.