In this article we will discuss in detail about the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department in the Indian Navy. Like the Indian Army, the Navy also has a separate JAG Department and invites applications for the same. The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department is the legal arm of the Indian Naval Service. A Judge Advocate is appointed under Section 168 of the Navy Act, 1957 and is deemed to be a Judicial Officer.
The primary role of a JAG officer is to deliver independent, operationally-focused, solution-oriented legal advice and services across the full spectrum of naval law towards supporting naval operations and a sound naval administration. The JAG Department is the cornerstone of the law of the Indian Navy, professionally contributing to a disciplined force, with targeted legal solutions in the performance of legal and judicial duties.
The JAG Department thus, plays a very crucial role by effectively discharging its responsibilities in administering and supervising the naval justice system, which is inextricably linked to maintaining good order and discipline, and promoting confidence within the Naval justice system. The primary duty of the officer in the Department of JAG (Navy) is to attend Courts Martial as Trial Judge Advocate wherein he decides all questions of law arising in the course of trial. An officer in this Department is expected to render advice and assistance to ships/ establishments / units of the Indian Navy in dealing with disciplinary matters, monitoring court cases and also in pursuing litigation in the various courts at various levels. The duties of a legal officer include providing advice on various segments of diverse laws, such as – Naval Law, Rules, Regulations and Orders of the Navy, International Maritime Law, Salvage, Piracy, Contract Law, Criminal and civil Law, Personal Law and others.
The following points are essential for you to note with respect to the JAG entry for Indian Navy:
- The Indian Navy usually releases only two vacancies (for men and women included).
- Unlike the JAG notification for Indian Army, the Indian Navy does not release it every 6 months. In fact it is difficult to assess when the notification will be released. Therefore, it is essential for defence aspirants to keep themselves updated with the help of various sites which publish the news when notifications for various examinations are out.
- The age limit to apply for the JAG entry is between 22-27 years.
- The educational and professional qualification required to apply for the JAG entry is a degree in Law qualifying for enrolment as an advocate under Advocates Act 1961, with minimum 55% marks.
- Even though the qualifying marks for being shortlisted for appearing for the SSB is 55%, however HQ of MoD(Navy) reserves the right to shortlist application and to fix cut off percentage based on percentage scored in degree for education qualification. Therefore even after filling the form, not everybody will get a call letter for the SSB and only the candidates securing the top positions in the merit according to their graduation percentage and as decided by the HQ, will receive a call letter. As per the last notification issued by the Indian Navy for the June 2021 course, which invited application for Navy JAG as well stated that, “Approximately 200 candidates, who are in merit list will be shortlisted for SSB.” This is also their discretion, as to how many candidates will they issue a call letter to.
- Candidates applying for this entry should be from a college/university recognised by Bar Council of India.
Points to keep in mind when filling the form:
- Candidates are to register and fill application on the recruitment website www.joinindiannavy.gov.in.
- Whilst filling up the e-application, it is advisable to keep the relevant documents readily available to enable the following:-
- Correct filling up of personal particulars. Details are to be filled up as given in the Matriculation Certificate.
- Fields such as e-mail address, mobile number are mandatory and need to be filled.
- All relevant documents (preferably in original), mark sheets of educational certificates, date of birth proof as per 10th or 12th certificate, CGPA conversion formula for graduation degree and a recent passport size colour photograph should be scanned in original in JPG/FITT format for attaching the same while filling up the application. If any scanned document is not legible/readable for any reason, the application will be rejected.
- Guidelines for tattoo are available on the Indian Navy website: www. joinindiannavy.gov.in. (If one has a tattoo, then reading these guidelines before filling the application is important).
- SSB interviews are conducted at Bhopal/Bangalore/Visakhapatnam/Kolkata.
- Shortlisted candidates will be informed about their selection for SSB interview through e-mail or SMS (provided by candidates in their application form). Candidates are advised not to change their e-mail/mobile number till selection process is over.
- AC 3-Tier rail fare by shortest route is reimbursable in case you are attending for the first time for the Commission on production of hard copy of train ticket. If travel is by air/bus, original boarding pass/ hard copy of Air/ bus ticket is mandatory for claiming fare subject to maximum AC 3 tier fare by shortest route (You will only be eligible to get compensated for the travel cost incurred by you, only if you have not attended any SSB before, i.e. Air Force, Army, Navy or Indian Coast Guard).
- Once you receive the call letter, it will contain the following instructions:
- Reporting Date, Time and Place
- Documents to carry. Please bring the following certificates at the time of reporting at the centre failing which your candidature will be cancelled:-
- Degree Certificates / Marksheets . Printed copy of call up letter, original and one Attested copy of marksheets and certificates of 10th, 12th, Graduation, Post-Graduation (as applicable for the entry) OR “Custodian Certificate” issued by competent authority at College / Principal along with duly certified Xerox copies of certificates in case the certificates are held by college/university. In case of computer generated photocopy of marksheet / degree certificate, the same be attested by college / university authority.
- Bonafide Certificate In case the candidate is appearing/appeared in the final year/semester of qualifying examination, bonafide certificate is required that should include the name of college/university. Discipline and year/semester of Graduation/Post Graduation being pursued, aggregate percentage till last year/semester (for which the result is declared) and likely date of declaration of final year result (in MM/YY format).
- CGPA Percentage Conversion Formulae / Supporting Documents . Candidates who have entered CGPA converted percentage while applying online need to bring CGPA to Percentage conversion formulae / documents issued by their university/competent authority.
- For working candidates. Supporting document viz. appointment / joining letter issued by present / past employer(s). (e) Twenty passport size photographs.
- Any One of these ID proofs i.e. voter ID/Passport/Driving license/Pan card/admit card as proof of your identity. All candidates are also requested to carry their Aadhar card in addition to other ID proof
- One copy of online application form
- Photocopy of the first page of passbook or cheque leaf reflecting the name A/C No. & IFSC details.
- Affidavit. In case of variations in personal particulars given in application form and that in matriculation certificate, affidavit / corrective action taken (stating the variations in the personal particulars in specific document) is required.
- Copy of online application form.
It is important that the candidate is extremely meticulous in pertaining to all guidelines as the slightest mistake can cost him his candidature. All the best!
YLCC would like to thank Apurwa Shah for her valuable inputs in this article.
