JK High Court District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 16 Posts

1. Post Date / Last Update

• Notification Date: 3 October 2026
• Last Updated: 2 November 2026
• Advertisement Number: 1841 of 2024 / No. 4770-783 of 2026/RG
• Latest Update: The last date for submitting online applications has been extended from 4 November 2026 to 15 November 2026.

2. Short Information

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has released a recruitment notification for 16 District Judge (Entry Level) posts through direct recruitment.

Eligible candidates with a Degree in Law and at least seven years of qualifying legal practice or combined advocate and judicial service experience can apply online.

Applicants must also fulfil the prescribed domicile, nationality and Urdu language proficiency requirements. The selection process consists of a written examination followed by a Viva-voce examination.

The online application process started on 5 October 2026, and the extended last date for application submission and fee payment is 15 November 2026.

3. JK High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 – Key Details

• Organisation Name: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
• Job Category: Judicial Services Recruitment
• Job Designation: District Judge (Entry Level)
• Total Vacancies: 16 Posts
• Advertisement Number: 1841 of 2024 / No. 4770-783 of 2026/RG
• Notification Date: 3 October 2026
• Job Location: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
• Application Mode: Online
• Application Start Date: 5 October 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 15 November 2026
• Educational Qualification: Degree in Law from a recognised university
• Required Experience: Minimum 7 years of qualifying legal practice or combined advocate and judicial service experience
• Age Limit: 35 to 45 years
• Pay Level: J-5
• Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840–₹1,94,660
• Application Fee: ₹1,200
• Selection Process: Written Examination and Viva-voce
• Official Website: https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in/

4. Vacancy Details

The High Court has announced a total of 16 vacancies for District Judge (Entry Level).

Category-Wise Vacancies

• OM: 4 Posts
• SC: 2 Posts
• ST-1: 1 Post
• ST-2: 2 Posts
• ALC: 1 Post
• OBC: 2 Posts
• RBA: 2 Posts
• EWS: 2 Posts
• Total: 16 Posts

5. Educational Qualification and Experience

Educational Qualification

Candidates must fulfil the following educational qualification requirement:

• Must possess a Degree in Law from a recognised university established by law in India.
• The university and law degree must be recognised by the Bar Council of India.

Required Experience

Candidates must fulfil either of the following experience conditions:

• Must be a practising advocate in courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction with at least seven years of actual continuous practice.

OR

• Must be an in-service candidate with a combined continuous experience of at least seven years as an Advocate and in Judicial Service.

The required experience must be completed by the last date of receipt of applications.

For this recruitment, the term Advocate includes:

• Practising Advocates
• Pleaders and Government Pleaders
• Public Prosecutors

Nationality and Domicile

Candidates must fulfil the following conditions as on the last date of application submission:

• Must be a citizen of India.
• Must be a domicile of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as defined under Rule 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020.

OR

• Must be a resident of the Union Territory of Ladakh, as defined under Clause (4) of the Union Territory of Ladakh Resident Certificate Order, 2021.

Language Proficiency

• Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu.

6. Age Limit

Candidates must meet the following age requirements:

• Minimum Age: 35 Years
• Maximum Age: 45 Years
• Age Calculation: As on the last date of receipt of applications.

Age Relaxation

The following categories are eligible for age relaxation of 2 years:

• Scheduled Castes (SC)
• Scheduled Tribes (ST)
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
• Other Backward Classes (OBC)

7. Application Fee

• All Eligible Categories: ₹1,200

Payment Mode

• The application fee must be deposited through online mode.
• Candidates must pay the fee after successfully submitting the online application form.

8. Salary / Pay Scale

Selected candidates will receive salary under the following pay structure:

• Pay Level: J-5
• Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840–₹1,94,660

The notification does not specify additional allowances beyond the designated pay scale.

9. Selection Process

The selection process for District Judge (Entry Level) direct recruitment consists of two stages:

1. Written Examination
2. Viva-voce Examination

Written Examination

The written examination consists of two papers:

• Paper I: 80 Marks
• Paper II: 80 Marks
• Duration: 2 Hours for each paper
• Total Written Marks: 160 Marks

Each paper is divided into three parts carrying an equal number of questions. Candidates must attempt nine questions in each paper, with three questions from each part.

Paper I – Subjects

Paper I covers the following subjects and areas:

• Essay and Precis Writing
• Constitution of India
• Legal Maxims
• Translation from Urdu to English/Hindi
• Judgment Writing
• Partnership
• Contracts
• Arbitration
• Transfer of Property Act (TPA)
• Agrarian Reforms Act
• Evacuees Property Act
• Alienation of Land Act
• Specific Relief Act
• Motor Vehicles Act
• Personal Laws
• Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
• Interpretation of Statutes
• Acquisition/Requisition of Immovable Property
• Guardianship
• Probate
• Eviction from Public Premises

Paper II – Subjects

Paper II covers the following subjects and areas:

• Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
• Indian Penal Code (IPC) / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
• Juvenile Justice Act
• Criminal Judgment Writing
• Indian Evidence Act / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)
• Penal Laws Relating to Arms
• Laws Relating to Enemies and Terrorist Activities
• Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations
• General Financial Rules
• Medical Jurisprudence
• Prevention of Corruption Act
• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act

Viva-voce Examination

• Total Marks: 40
• Candidates qualifying in the written examination will be called for the Viva-voce examination.
• Candidates must secure at least 50% marks in the written examination to qualify for the Viva-voce.
• For SC/ST and PwBD candidates, the written examination qualifying requirement is 45%.
• Candidates will be called for Viva-voce in the ratio of three candidates for every available vacancy.
• Candidates must secure at least 50% marks out of the 40 marks allotted for Viva-voce.
• For SC/ST and PwBD candidates, the Viva-voce qualifying requirement is 45%.

Final Selection

Final selection will be based on the cumulative grade value obtained in the written examination and Viva-voce.

10. Important Dates

• Notification Date: 3 October 2026
• Online Application Start Date: 5 October 2026
• Earlier Application Deadline: 4 November 2026
• Extended Last Date for Online Application: 15 November 2026
• Last Date for Fee Payment: 15 November 2026
• Written Examination Date: To be notified separately

Candidates should follow the official High Court website for examination schedules and further recruitment announcements.

11. How to Apply

Eligible candidates can submit their applications online by following these steps:

1. Visit the official website of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in/.
2. Open the recruitment section or the online examination portal.
3. Find the District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026 notification.
4. Read the complete recruitment notification and verify the eligibility conditions.
5. Open the online application form through the recruitment portal.
6. Enter the required personal, educational, domicile and professional experience details.
7. Upload scanned copies of the required certificates and supporting documents.
8. Review all the information entered in the application form.
9. Submit the completed online application.
10. Pay the application fee of ₹1,200 through the online payment facility.
11. Download and print the submitted application form and fee payment receipt for future reference.

Online Application Portal

• Recruitment Website: https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in/
• Online Examination Portal: https://exams.jklhc.in/

12. Documents Required

Candidates should keep the following documents ready for the online application and subsequent verification:

• Date of Birth Certificate, such as Secondary School or Matriculation Certificate.
• Domicile Certificate of Jammu and Kashmir or Residence Certificate of Ladakh, as applicable.
• Bachelor's Degree in Law from a recognised university.
• Experience Certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge or Registrar Judicial in the prescribed format under Annexure-A.
• Experience/Service Certificate for in-service Judicial Officers in the prescribed format under Annexure-B.
• Reserved Category Certificate, if claiming reservation benefits.
• Other supporting documents required by the official application form.

Candidates should ensure that the information in their certificates matches the details entered in the application form.

13. Important Instructions

• Candidates who previously applied under Notification No. 1841 of 2024 dated 8 August 2024 or Notification No. 03 of 2024 dated 5 June 2024, and whose candidature was not rejected, are not required to apply again.
• Incorrect or false information may lead to rejection of candidature at any stage of recruitment.
• Applications, documents and fees submitted after the extended deadline of 15 November 2026 will not be accepted.
• Incomplete applications or applications submitted through unauthorised modes will be rejected.
• No separate call letters will be issued through print or electronic media.
• Information regarding examination dates, venues and other recruitment updates will be published on the official High Court website.
• No TA/DA will be paid for appearing in the written examination or interview.
• Candidature of reserved category applicants will remain provisional until their category certificates are verified by the Appointing Authority.
• False or fraudulent reservation claims may result in debarment from the examination and penal action.
• Candidates should regularly visit the official website for updates and instructions.

14. Official Website / Apply Link

• Official Website: https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in/
• Online Examination Portal: https://exams.jklhc.in/
• Last Date: 15 November 2026
• Application Mode: Online
• Latest Deadline Extension Notice: https://jkhighcourt.nic.in/upload/notices/notice_2797_31102026.pdf

Candidates should refer to the official recruitment notification and deadline extension notice before submitting their applications.

15. Conclusion

JK High Court District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026 is an opportunity for eligible law graduates with at least seven years of qualifying legal practice or combined advocate and judicial service experience to apply for 16 District Judge vacancies.

Candidates must also satisfy the prescribed domicile, Urdu language proficiency, age and other eligibility conditions. The selection process includes a written examination and Viva-voce.

The online application deadline has been extended to 15 November 2026. Eligible applicants should complete their applications and fee payment through the official recruitment portal before the closing date.

Notification Date: 3 October 2026

Online Application Start Date: 5 October 2026

Earlier Application Deadline: 4 November 2026

Extended Last Date for Online Application: 15 November 2026

Last Date for Fee Payment: 15 November 2026

Written Examination Date: To be notified separately

Candidates should keep the following documents ready for the online application and subsequent verification:

Date of Birth Certificate, such as Secondary School or Matriculation Certificate.

Domicile Certificate of Jammu and Kashmir or Residence Certificate of Ladakh, as applicable.

Bachelor's Degree in Law from a recognised university.

Experience Certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge or Registrar Judicial in the prescribed format under Annexure-A.

Experience/Service Certificate for in-service Judicial Officers in the prescribed format under Annexure-B.

Reserved Category Certificate, if claiming reservation benefits.

Other supporting documents required by the official application form.

Eligible candidates can submit their applications online by following these steps:

Visit the official website of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: https://www.jkhighcourt.nic.in/.

Open the recruitment section or the online examination portal.

Find the District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026 notification.

Read the complete recruitment notification and verify the eligibility conditions.

Open the online application form through the recruitment portal.

Enter the required personal, educational, domicile and professional experience details.

Upload scanned copies of the required certificates and supporting documents.

Review all the information entered in the application form.

Submit the completed online application.

Pay the application fee of ₹1,200 through the online payment facility.

Download and print the submitted application form and fee payment receipt for future reference.