J&K High Court Recruitment 2026: Apply Link Available
J&K High Court Recruitment 2026: Apply Link Available
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has issued a fresh recruitment notification for the post of District Judge (Entry Level) through direct recruitment. Eligible candidates are invited to submit their applications online under the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Judicial Service Rules, 2009, as amended from time to time.
A total of 16 vacancies have been announced for eligible candidates belonging to different categories. Interested applicants must fulfil the prescribed educational qualifications, professional experience, age limit, domicile and other eligibility conditions before submitting their applications.
The recruitment notification supersedes the earlier Advertisement Notification No. 1841 of 2024/RG/GS dated August 8, 2024, along with its corrigendum dated August 12, 2024.
Overview :
Recruiting Authority: High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
Post Name: District Judge (Entry Level)
Total Vacancies: 16
Recruitment Type: Direct Recruitment
🎓 Explore Jobs by Qualification
Explore the latest job opportunities in J&K and across India based on your educational qualification.
Pay Level: J-5
Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840–₹1,94,660
Application Mode: Online
Application Fee: ₹1,200
Notification Date: October 3, 2026
Application Start Date: October 5, 2026
Last Date to Apply: November 4, 2026
Official Website: https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in
Recruitment Portal: https://exams.jklhc.in
Vacancy Details
The High Court has announced 16 District Judge vacancies across various categories. The category-wise distribution is as follows:
Open Merit (OM): 4 posts
Scheduled Caste (SC): 2 posts
Scheduled Tribe-I (ST-I): 1 post
Scheduled Tribe-II (ST-II): 2 posts
Actual Line of Control (ALC): 1 post
Other Backward Classes (OBC): 2 posts
Residents of Backward Areas (RBA): 2 posts
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 2 posts
Candidates claiming reservation benefits must possess a valid category certificate as of the prescribed cut-off date. Reserved-category claims will remain provisional until the certificate’s authenticity is verified by the appointing authority.
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for the District Judge position must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognised university established by law in India and recognised by the Bar Council of India.
Supreme Court of India More Fresh Recruitment 2026
Applicants should ensure that their law degree meets the requirements specified in the recruitment rules before applying.
Professional Experience Required
Applicants must fulfil one of the following experience conditions:
They must be practising advocates in courts exercising civil and criminal jurisdiction, with at least seven years of actual, continuous legal practice.
Alternatively, in-service candidates must have a combined continuous experience of at least seven years as an advocate and judicial officer.
For this purpose, the notification includes practising advocates, pleaders, government pleaders and public prosecutors within the applicable definition of an advocate.
Practising advocates must submit an experience certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge or Registrar Judicial of the relevant High Court wing, in the prescribed format under Annexure-A.
In-service judicial officers must submit an experience or service certificate in accordance with Annexure-B.
Age Limit
Candidates must have attained the age of 35 years and must not be above 45 years as of the last date for receipt of applications.
A relaxation of two years is provided under the notification for candidates belonging to the following categories:
Scheduled Castes (SC)
Scheduled Tribes (ST)
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
Other Backward Classes (OBC)
Applicants should verify their eligibility under the applicable recruitment rules before submitting the application form.
Domicile and Other Eligibility Conditions
Candidates must satisfy the following additional requirements:
Must be a citizen of India.
Must be a domicile of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the applicable domicile rules, or a resident of the Union Territory of Ladakh as defined in the relevant resident certificate order.
Must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu.
Must fulfil the educational qualification, age and professional experience requirements.
Selection Process
The selection of candidates for District Judge posts will be made through a competitive examination consisting of a written examination and a viva-voce test.
1. Written Examination
The written examination will consist of two papers, each carrying 80 marks. Each paper will have a duration of two hours.
Paper I: 80 marks
Paper II: 80 marks
Total written examination marks: 160
Candidates who secure at least 50% marks in the written examination will be eligible for consideration for the viva-voce test, subject to merit and the prescribed ratio of three candidates for each available vacancy.
For Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates, the minimum qualifying threshold for the written examination is 45%.
2. Viva-Voce Examination
The viva-voce examination will carry 40 marks.
Candidates must secure at least 50% marks in the viva-voce to qualify. The prescribed minimum is 45% for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates.
3. Final Selection
The final selection will be based on the cumulative marks obtained in the written examination and viva-voce, subject to the applicable eligibility and selection rules.
District Judge Examination Syllabus 2026
The notification includes the detailed syllabus under Annexure-C of the recruitment notice.
Paper I
Part I
Essay and precis writing
Constitution of India
Legal maxims
Translation of passages from Urdu to English or Hindi to English
Part II
Judgment writing on the civil original and civil appellate sides
Laws relating to partnerships, contracts and arbitration
Transfer of Property Act, 1882
Jammu and Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976
Jammu and Kashmir State Evacuees (Administration of Property) Act, 2006
Jammu and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act, 1995 (1938 A.D.)
Specific Relief Act, 1963
Compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
Laws relating to marriage, divorce and succession governing Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists
Part III
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Interpretation of statutes
Laws relating to acquisition and requisition of immovable property
Guardianship, succession certificates, probate and letters of administration
Laws relating to eviction of unauthorised occupants from public premises
Paper II
Part I
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
Part II
Judgment writing on the criminal original and criminal appellate sides
Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Penal laws in force in the Union Territories relating to arms, enemies and terrorist-related activities
Part III
Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations
General Financial Rules
Medical jurisprudence
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
The notification clarifies that references to laws in the syllabus are to be understood in accordance with the laws enforced in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Application Fee
Candidates must pay an application fee of ₹1,200 through the online payment mode after successfully submitting the online application form.
Applicants should retain the fee payment receipt for future reference.
Documents Required for Online Application
Candidates must upload the required documents while filling out the application form. These include:
Date of birth certificate or Secondary School/Matriculation Certificate.
Domicile Certificate or Residence Certificate, as applicable.
Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
Experience certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge or Registrar Judicial in the prescribed Annexure-A format.
Experience/service certificate in Annexure-B format for in-service judicial officers.
Valid reserved-category certificate, if claiming reservation benefits.
Candidates should ensure that all uploaded documents are clear, accurate and consistent with the information entered in the application form.
Important Dates :
Notification issued: October 3, 2026
Online application link activated: October 5, 2026
Last date for submission of the online application and fee: November 4, 2026
Candidates are advised not to wait until the last date to complete the application process.
How to Apply for J&K High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can follow these steps to submit their applications:
Visit the official website of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in.
Open the recruitment section and access the online recruitment portal at https://exams.jklhc.in.
Locate the District Judge (Entry Level) recruitment notification.
Read the official notification and applicable recruitment rules carefully.
Fill in the online application form with the required personal, educational and professional details.
Upload the prescribed certificates and supporting documents.
Pay the application fee of ₹1,200 through the online payment facility.
Review all details before submitting the form.
Submit the application before November 4, 2026.
Download or print the submitted application form and fee receipt for future reference.
Incomplete applications, applications submitted after the deadline, and applications received through modes other than the prescribed online process will not be entertained.
Important Instructions for Applicants
Candidates must provide correct and complete information in their application forms. Any incorrect information may lead to rejection of candidature at any stage of the recruitment process.
Candidates who previously applied under Notification No. 1841 of 2024 dated August 8, 2024, or Notification No. 03 of 2024 dated June 5, 2024, and were eligible under the rules applicable at that time, with their candidature not rejected, are not required to apply again.
Eligible candidates will be required to appear for the written examination and viva-voce on the dates notified separately. Details regarding examination venues and schedules will be published through the High Court’s official website. No separate call letters will be issued through print or electronic media, as stated in the notification.
No travelling allowance or daily allowance (TA/DA) will be paid for appearing in the examination or interview.
Candidates seeking reservation benefits must ensure that their category certificates are valid. Submission of false or fraudulent certificates may result in disqualification and further penal action.
Important Links
Apply Online : Click here
Official Notification : Click here
Official Website : Click here