High Court of J&K and Ladakh Recruitment 2026
High Court of J&K and Ladakh Recruitment 2026
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has issued Notification No. 2279 of 2026/RG dated October 1, 2026, inviting applications for 11 posts of District Judge in Level J-5 (₹1,44,840–₹1,94,660).
The recruitment will be conducted through promotion on the basis of merit via a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination. The opportunity is available to eligible Civil Judges (Senior Division) who meet the prescribed service requirements under the Jammu & Kashmir Higher Judicial Service Rules, 2009, as amended from time to time.
Number of Posts
The notification provides for 11 District Judge posts to be filled through the prescribed limited competitive examination and promotion process.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be Civil Judges (Senior Division) and should have:
A minimum of three years of service as Civil Judge (Senior Division).
At least seven years of total service rendered as Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Civil Judge (Senior Division).
The eligibility is prescribed under Rule 5(1)(b) read with Rule 7 of the Jammu & Kashmir Higher Judicial Service Rules, 2009.
Method of Selection
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The selection process consists of a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for accelerated promotion. It includes a written examination, performance assessment and viva voce.
Written Examination – 180 Marks
The written examination will consist of two papers:
Paper 1 – Laws and Procedure
Marks: 100
Duration: 3 hours
The paper will consist of questions relating to Laws and Procedure.
Paper 2 – Judgment Writing
Marks: 80
Duration: 90 minutes
Candidates will be required to frame and write two judgments:
One Civil judgment – 40 marks
One Criminal judgment – 40 marks
Performance Assessment – 80 Marks
Performance assessment will carry 80 marks, distributed as follows:
Last five years’ ACRs: 35 marks
Judgments: 25 marks
Disposal of contested cases: 20 marks
Viva Voce – 20 Marks
The viva voce will carry 20 marks.
A candidate will be eligible to appear in the viva voce only after securing:
50% marks in each written paper
50% marks in Performance Assessment
55% marks in aggregate
Candidates securing 55% or more marks in aggregate will be declared successful.
Application Dates
Eligible candidates are required to submit their applications online through the High Court examination portal.
Online Application Portal: exams.jklhc.in
Application Start Date: 3 October 2026
Last Date to Apply: 15 October 2026
The portal will remain live during the prescribed application period.
Examination Syllabus
The detailed syllabus for the examination will remain the same as the syllabus notified through High Court Notification No. 1142 of 2024 dated 27 June 2024.
Important Instructions
Eligible candidates should carefully check the prescribed service requirements before submitting their applications. Applicants should also complete the online application within the notified deadline and follow the instructions available on the High Court examination portal.
The notification has been issued by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and circulated to the concerned judicial authorities for information and necessary action.
Key Details at a Glance
Recruiting Authority: High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Post: District Judge
Number of Posts: 11
Pay Level: J-5 (₹1,44,840–₹1,94,660)
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Recruitment Method: Promotion through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination
Eligible Candidates: Civil Judges (Senior Division) meeting prescribed service criteria
Application Mode: Online
Application Start: 3 October 2026
Last Date: 15 October 2026
Application Portal: exams.jklhc.in
Note: The notification text contains a date discrepancy: the notification is shown as dated 01.10.2026, while the forwarding section carries 04.10.2026. The application window itself is explicitly stated as 3 October 2026 to 15 October 2026
Important Links
Official Notification : Click here
Official Website: Click here