The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has invited online applications for the direct recruitment of 16 District Judges (Entry Level). The recruitment is open to eligible advocates and qualifying in-service candidates who meet the prescribed legal experience, age and domicile requirements.
The selected candidates will be appointed in Pay Level J-5, carrying a pay scale of ₹1,44,840 to ₹1,94,660.
Applicants must possess a law degree from a recognised university and satisfy the required experience conditions. Knowledge of reading and writing Urdu is also mandatory.
The High Court has extended the application deadline from 4 November 2026 to 15 November 2026, through a notification dated 31 October 2026.
About the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is the common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
It exercises constitutional, appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in accordance with the applicable laws.
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The present recruitment is for direct appointment to the District Judge cadre at the entry level.
About the District Judge Recruitment 2026
The High Court has announced 16 vacancies for the position of District Judge (Entry Level) through direct recruitment.
The recruitment is intended for candidates with substantial experience in legal practice or qualifying combined experience in advocacy and judicial service.
Candidates must meet the prescribed educational, professional, age and residency conditions.
Selection will take place through a written examination followed by a viva voce.
Number of Vacancies
Name of Post: District Judge (Entry Level)
Total Vacancies: 16
Recruiting Authority: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Recruitment Mode: Direct Recruitment
The category-wise distribution of vacancies should be checked in the detailed official notification.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a degree in law from a university recognised under the applicable eligibility requirements.
In addition to the law degree, applicants must satisfy the professional experience conditions prescribed for the recruitment.
Professional Experience
Practising advocates must have at least seven years of actual and continuous practice as an advocate.
The recruitment conditions also provide for eligible in-service candidates possessing at least seven years of combined experience as an advocate and in judicial service.
Candidates applying under the in-service category should carefully examine the detailed notification to confirm the applicable eligibility and service conditions.
Age Limit
The prescribed age range is 35 to 45 years.
A relaxation of two years in the upper age limit is available to eligible candidates belonging to the SC, ST, PwBD and OBC categories.
Applicants should check the official notification for the date used to calculate their age and the supporting documents required to claim relaxation.
Domicile and Residency Requirements
The recruitment is subject to specific domicile and residency conditions.
Candidates must be domiciles of Jammu & Kashmir or residents of the Union Territory of Ladakh, as prescribed in the recruitment notification.
Applicants should ensure that they possess the necessary documents to establish their eligibility.
Urdu Language Requirement
Candidates must possess proficiency in reading and writing Urdu.
This requirement forms part of the eligibility conditions for the recruitment.
Applicants should consult the official examination instructions for any further details concerning assessment of language proficiency.
Salary and Pay Scale
The District Judge (Entry Level) position carries Pay Level J-5.
Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840 to ₹1,94,660
The stated figures represent the prescribed pay scale and should not be confused with the final monthly take-home salary.
Other admissible allowances and deductions will be governed by the applicable service rules.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of a written examination followed by a viva voce.
Written Examination
Eligible candidates will be required to appear for the written examination conducted under the High Court’s recruitment process.
The examination will assess candidates in accordance with the syllabus, examination pattern and rules prescribed by the recruiting authority.
Applicants should refer to the official notification for the detailed examination scheme and qualifying requirements.
Viva Voce
Candidates who qualify for the next stage under the prescribed selection criteria will be called for the viva voce.
The final selection will be made in accordance with the recruitment rules and the High Court’s notified selection procedure.
Application Fee
The application fee is ₹1,200.
Candidates must pay the fee online through the prescribed payment facility.
Applicants should retain the payment confirmation and other application records for future reference.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the official recruitment portal of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Candidates should visit the recruitment portal, read the detailed advertisement and complete the online application form.
Applicants must provide the required personal, educational and professional details, upload the prescribed documents and pay the application fee.
The application should be submitted before the closing date.
Official Application Portal: https://exams.jklhc.in/
Applications through offline modes are not accepted under the stated recruitment procedure.
Important Dates
Original Application Deadline: 4 November 2026
Extension Notification: 31 October 2026
Revised Last Date to Apply: 15 November 2026
Candidates should complete the application process before the revised deadline.
Official Notification and Application Link
Recruiting Authority: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Post: District Judge (Entry Level)
Vacancies: 16
Pay Scale: ₹1,44,840 to ₹1,94,660
Application Fee: ₹1,200
Selection: Written Examination and Viva Voce
Application Mode: Online
Last Date: 15 November 2026
Official Recruitment Portal: https://exams.jklhc.in/
Official High Court Website: https://jkhighcourt.nic.in/
Source: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh recruitment notification dated 3 October 2026, read with the deadline extension notification dated 31 October 2026.
Note: The recruitment details in this article are based on the information supplied. Candidates should consult the original High Court notifications for the complete eligibility conditions, category-wise vacancies, age calculation date and examination rules before applying.
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