JK High Court District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 16 Posts
High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (High Court of J&K and Ladakh) has released advertisement number 1841 of 2024 / No: 4770-783 of 2026/RG for 16 District Judge (Entry Level) vacancies. Candidates applying for this 2026 recruitment must hold a Degree in Law and 7 years practice, along with other specified domicile, language, and eligibility conditions. The pay scale for the post is Pay Level J-5 (144840-194660). Eligible applicants can submit their ONLINE application from 5 October 2026 to 4 November 2026, which is also the last date for the fee. The selection process consists of a Written Examination followed by a Viva-voce Examination.
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) – Quick Summary
- Who is recruiting?: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
- Which posts?: District Judge (Entry Level)
- How many vacancies?: 16 vacancies
- Who can apply?: Law graduates with 7 years of practice or combined service experience
- Application start date: 05.10.2026
- Last date: 04.11.2026
- Application mode: Online
- Job location: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh |
| Advertisement No. | 1841 of 2024 / No: 4770-783 of 2026/RG |
| Post Name(s) | District Judge (Entry Level) |
| Total Vacancies | 16 Posts |
| Pay | Pay Level J-5 (144840-194660) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Location | Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh |
| Official Website | https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in |
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 03.10.2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 05.10.2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application and Fee Payment | 04.11.2026 |
| Examination Date | To be notified separately |
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Vacancy Details (Category-wise)
The total number of available posts is 16. The category-wise breakdown of vacancies is as follows:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| OM | 04 |
| SC | 02 |
| ST-1 | 01 |
| ST-2 | 02 |
| ALC | 01 |
| OBC | 02 |
| RBA | 02 |
| EWS | 02 |
| Total | 16 |
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Eligibility Criteria
Nationality and Domicile
Must be a domicile of UT of Jammu and Kashmir as defined in Rule 3 of Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020, or a resident of Union Territory of Ladakh as defined in Clause (4) of the Union Territory of Ladakh Resident Certificate Order, 2021, and a citizen of India as on the last date of filing of application.
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Qualification
| Post | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| District Judge (Entry Level) | Must possess a Degree in Law from a recognized University established by Law in India and recognized as such by the Bar Council of India. |
Experience
Must be a practicing advocate in the Courts of Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction having been in actual continuous practice for a period of not less than seven years, or must be an in-service candidate having a combined continuous experience of seven years or more as an Advocate and Judicial as on the last date of receipt of applications. The word Advocate includes Practicing Advocates, Pleaders / Government Pleaders, and Public Prosecutors.
Language Proficiency
Must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu.
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Age Limit
Candidates must have attained the age of 35 years and not above the age of 45 years as on the last date of receipt of applications.
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) / Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) / Other Backward Classes (OBC) | Relaxable by 2 years |
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Salary
| Post | Pay Level / Pay |
|---|---|
| District Judge (Entry Level) | Pay Level J-5 (144840-194660) |
The notification does not specify additional allowances beyond the designated pay scale.
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Eligible Categories | Rs. 1200/- |
The requisite fee of Rs. 1200/- must be deposited through online mode after successful submission of the online application form.
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Selection Process
The competitive examination for appointment of District Judges by direct recruitment consists of a written examination and a viva-voce examination.
- Written Examination: Comprises two papers of two hours duration each. Each paper carries 80 marks and comprises three parts carrying equal number of questions. Candidates must attempt nine questions in each paper, three from each part.
- Viva-voce Examination: Carries 40 marks.
Only candidates obtaining 50% or more marks in the written examination (45% or more for SC/ST and PwBD candidates) will be called for the viva-voce test in the ratio of three candidates for one available vacancy. Candidates must obtain 50% marks out of the 40 marks earmarked for viva-voce (45% for SC/ST and PwBD candidates). Final selection is made on the cumulative grade value obtained in the written examination and viva-voce.
Exam Pattern
| Part | Subject / Papers | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay/Precise writing, Constitution of India, Legal Maxims, Translation (Urdu to English/Hindi), Judgment Writing, Partnership, Contracts, Arbitration, TPA, Agrarian Reforms Act, Evacuees Property Act, Alienation of Land Act, Specific Relief Act, Motor Vehicles Act, Personal Laws, CPC, Interpretation of Statutes, Acquisition/Requisition of immovable property, Guardianship, Probate, Eviction from public premises. | Attempt 9 questions (3 from each part) | 80 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | CrPC/BNSS, IPC/BNS, Juvenile Justice Act, Judgment Writing (Criminal), Indian Evidence Act/BSA, Penal Laws relating to Arms, Enemies, Terrorist activities, J&K Civil Service Regulations, General Financial Rules, Medical Jurisprudence, Prevention of Corruption Act, NDPS Act. | Attempt 9 questions (3 from each part) | 80 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Viva-voce | Oral Interview | - | 40 Marks | - |
How to Apply for High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level)
- Visit the recruitment portal of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at exams.jklhc.in (link activates on 05.10.2026).
- Access the online application form for District Judge (Entry Level) recruitment.
- Fill out the application form with accurate personal, educational, and professional details.
- Upload all required scanned documents including date of birth certificate, domicile certificate, degree in law, experience certificate, and category certificate if applicable.
- Submit the completed online application form.
- Deposit the requisite application fee of Rs. 1200/- through online mode.
- Keep a printout of the application form and fee payment receipt ready for future submission if required.
Documents Required
- Date of birth certificate (Secondary School / Matric Certificate)
- Domicile Certificate / Residence Certificate
- Bachelors Degree in Law
- Experience certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge / Registrar Judicial in the format annexed as Annexure-A
- Experience/service certificate for in-service Judicial Officers as per Annexure-B
- Reserved Category Certificate (if claiming benefit)
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Important Instructions
- Candidates who applied pursuant to earlier Notification No. 1841 of 2024 dated 08.08.2024 and Notification No. 03 of 2024 dated 05.06.2024, and whose candidature was not rejected, need not apply again.
- Any wrong or incorrect information furnished by the candidate leads to rejection of candidature at any stage.
- Submission of application form, documents, and fee after the cut-off date (04.11.2026) is not accepted or entertained.
- No separate call letters are issued via print/electronic media; notices regarding venues and dates are published on the official website https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in.
- No TA/DA is paid for the test or interview.
- Incomplete applications or applications received after the last date or via unapproved modes are rejected.
- Candidature of reserved category candidates remains provisional until category certificates are verified by the Appointing Authority.
- False or fraudulent reservation claims result in debarment from the examination and penal action.
High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Online application portal link (Active from 05.10.2026) |
| Official Notification PDF | Download notification and annexures |
| Official Website | High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh official portal |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the High Court of J&K and Ladakh District Judge Recruitment 2026?
It is a direct recruitment process conducted by the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to fill 16 vacancies in the cadre of District Judges (Entry Level) under Pay Level J-5.
How many vacancies are available in this recruitment?
A total of 16 vacancies are available, categorized across OM (04), SC (02), ST-1 (01), ST-2 (02), ALC (01), OBC (02), RBA (02), and EWS (02).
What is the last date to apply online?
The last date for filling up the online application form and depositing the requisite fee is 04.11.2026.
What is the educational qualification required?
Candidates must possess a Degree in Law from a recognized university established by law in India and recognized by the Bar Council of India, along with at least 7 years of actual continuous practice as an advocate or combined experience as an advocate and judicial officer.
What is the age limit for applicants?
Candidates must have attained the age of 35 years and not be above 45 years as on the last date of receipt of applications, with a 2-year relaxation for SC, ST, PwBD, and OBC candidates.
What is the application fee?
The prescribed application fee is Rs. 1200/-, payable through online mode.
How can I apply for the J&K High Court District Judge recruitment?
Eligible candidates can apply online through the official recruitment portal at exams.jklhc.in starting from 05.10.2026 until 04.11.2026.
What is the selection process?
The selection process comprises a written examination consisting of two papers carrying 80 marks each, followed by a viva-voce examination carrying 40 marks.
Is there any provision for candidates who applied under the earlier notifications?
Candidates who applied under Notification No. 1841 of 2024 dated 08.08.2024 and Notification No. 03 of 2024 dated 05.06.2024, whose candidature was not rejected, need not apply again.
Where will the examination dates and venues be announced?
Dates and venues are notified separately on the official website of the High Court at https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in, and separate call letters are not sent through print or electronic media.