The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the highest judicial authority for the two union territories, has announced direct recruitment to the cadre of District Judge (Entry Level) under the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Judicial Service Rules, with 16 posts on offer. This is a senior judicial appointment suited to practising advocates and in-service judicial officers, and the page brings together everything a candidate needs for this recruitment in one place.
JK High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026
Posted 08 Oct 2026Updated 08 Oct 20261841 of 2024 / No: 4770-783 of 2026/RG
Total Vacancies
16
Last Date
04 Nov
17 days left
Apply Mode
Online
Permanent
Status
Apply Now
Recruitment status
Applications open
Last date 04 Nov 2026 · 17 days left
- Notification03 Oct
- Applications Open05 Oct
About High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026
Job Overview
- Organization
- High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
- Advertisement No.
- 1841 of 2024 / No: 4770-783 of 2026/RG
- Post Name
- District Judge (Entry Level)
- Job Location
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Who Can Apply
- Only residents of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (Must be a domicile of UT of Jammu and Kashmir as defined in Rule 3 of the 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)
- Job Type
- Permanent
- Age Limit
- 35–45 years
- Gender
- All
- Nationality
- Indian
- Experience
- Not less than seven years of actual continuous practice as an advocate in the Courts of Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction, or a combined continuous experience of seven years or more as an Advocate and Judicial Officer, as on the last date of receipt of applications. The word Advocate includes Practicing Advocates, Pleaders / Government Pleaders and Public Prosecutors.
- Pay Scale
- Pay Level J-5 (144840-194660)
Vacancy Breakdown
District Judge (Entry Level)
16
OBC 02SC 02EWS 02
| Post Name | OBC | SC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District Judge (Entry Level) | 02 | 02 | 02 | 16 |
Eligibility Details
District Judge (Entry Level) - Qualification and Experience
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. 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. Note: The word Advocate used in clause (b) would include Practicing Advocates, Pleaders/Government Pleaders and Public Prosecutors. Practicing Advocates must submit an experience certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge/Registrar Judicial of the concerned Wing of the High Court in the format annexed as Annexure-A and in-service candidates must submit Experience/Service certificate as per Annexure-B. Must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu.
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| District Judge (Entry Level) - Qualification and Experience | 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. 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. Note: The word Advocate used in clause (b) would include Practicing Advocates, Pleaders/Government Pleaders and Public Prosecutors. Practicing Advocates must submit an experience certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge/Registrar Judicial of the concerned Wing of the High Court in the format annexed as Annexure-A and in-service candidates must submit Experience/Service certificate as per Annexure-B. Must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu. |
Age Limit
35 to 45 years as on the last date of receipt of applications
Age Relaxation
Relaxable by 2 years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) and Other Backward Classes
Application Fee
All Eligible Categories
Rs. 1200
Selection Process
- 1Written Examination
Two papers of two hours duration each, carrying 80 marks each; candidates must obtain 50% or more marks (45% or more for SC/ST and PwBD candidates) to be called for the viva-voce.
- 2Viva-voce Examination
Carries 40 marks; candidates must obtain 50% of these marks (45% for SC/ST and PwBD candidates). Final selection is made on the cumulative grade value obtained in the written examination and viva-voce.
Shortlisting ratio: 1:3 (three candidates called for viva-voce for one available vacancy)
Exam Pattern
2 hours for each paper
Paper I
80 marks
Paper II
80 marks
| Subject | Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | — | 80 | — |
| Paper II | — | 80 | — |
Salary Structure
Pay Level J-5 (144840-194660)
How to Apply
- 1Visit the recruitment portal of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir at exams.jklhc.in, which is activated on 05.10.2026 on the official website
- 2Open the online application form for District Judge (Entry Level) recruitment
- 3Fill in the application form with accurate personal, educational and professional details
- 4Upload the scanned date of birth certificate, domicile or residence certificate, Bachelors Degree in Law, experience certificate and reserved category certificate if applicable
- 5Submit the completed online application form
- 6Deposit the application fee of Rs. 1200 through online mode
- 7Keep a printout of the application form and fee payment receipt ready for submission as and when required
Documents to Carry / Upload
•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)
Important Details
- Candidates who applied under the 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.
- No separate call letters are issued through print or electronic media; the dates and venues of the written test and interview are published on the official website of the High Court.
- No TA/DA is paid for the test or interview.
- The candidature of reserved category candidates remains provisional until the genuineness of the category certificate is verified by the Appointing Authority, and a false or fraudulent reservation claim leads to debarment from the examination and penal action.
Paper I Syllabus
- Essay / Precise writing
- Constitution of India
- Legal Maxims
- Translation of a passage in Urdu to English or Hindi to English
- Judgment Writing on Civil Original and Civil Appellate side
- 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.) and Specific Relief Act 1963
- Laws relating to Compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
- Laws relating to Marriages, Divorce and Succession governing Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists
- Civil Procedure Code 1908
- Interpretation of Statutes
- Laws relating to acquisition and requisition of immovable property
- Laws relating to Guardianship, Succession Certificate, Probate and Letters of Administration
- Laws relating to Eviction of unauthorized occupants from public premises
Paper II Syllabus
- Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 / Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
- Indian Penal Code, 1860 / Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015
- Judgment Writing on Criminal Original and Criminal Appellate side
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Penal Laws in force in the state relating to Arms, Enemies and Terrorist related activities
- Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations
- General Financial Rules
- Medical Jurisprudence
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Narcotic, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
Experience Certificate Formats
Practicing advocates must submit an experience certificate issued by the concerned Principal District and Sessions Judge or Registrar Judicial of the concerned Wing of the High Court in the format at Annexure-A, certifying enrolment as an Advocate and actual practice in the Courts of Civil and Criminal jurisdiction for not less than seven years. In-service Judicial Officers must submit a certificate at Annexure-B from the Office of the Registrar General, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, showing membership of the Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Service, prior enrolment as an advocate and continuous practice till appointment as Civil Judge, giving a combined experience of seven years as advocate and Judicial Officer. Judicial Officers serving elsewhere must submit a similar certificate from their respective High Courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can candidates who applied under the earlier 2024 notifications apply again?
No. Candidates who applied under 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.
Is proficiency in Urdu required for this post?
Yes. Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu, and Paper I includes translation of a passage from Urdu to English or Hindi to English.
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