The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has invited online applications for the direct recruitment of 16 District Judges (Entry Level) under the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Judicial Service Rules, 2009. Eligible advocates and in-service judicial officers with the prescribed experience can apply. The last date for submission of online applications has been extended to 15 November 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 and Kashmir and Ladakh. Established on 26 March 1928 during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh, it exercises judicial jurisdiction over both Union Territories. The High Court functions through its wings at Jammu and Srinagar and operates under the constitutional framework governing the Indian judiciary.
Vacancies
16 posts of District Judges (Entry Level) through direct recruitment.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must possess a Degree in Law from a university established by law in India and recognised by the Bar Council of India.
- Candidates must be citizens of India and domiciles of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2020, or residents of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Union Territory of Ladakh Resident Certificate Order, 2021, as applicable.
- Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing Urdu.
Work Experience
- Practising Advocates: Must have been in actual continuous practice in courts exercising civil and criminal jurisdiction for not less than seven years.
- In-service Candidates: Must have a combined continuous experience of seven years or more as an Advocate and Judicial Officer.
- The required experience must be completed as on the last date of receipt of applications.
- For this purpose, the expression ‘Advocate’ includes practising advocates, pleaders, government pleaders and public prosecutors.
Proof of Work Experience
- Practising 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 prescribed format under Annexure-A.
- In-service Judicial Officers: Must submit an experience/service certificate in the prescribed format under Annexure-B.
- Judicial Officers serving elsewhere must submit a similar certificate issued by their respective High Courts.
- Where experience is claimed under the extended definition of ‘Advocate’, satisfactory documentary proof of the relevant engagement and its continuity must be produced before the competent authority.
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 35 years.
- Maximum Age: 45 years.
- Age Relaxation: Two years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) and Other Backward Classes.
- The age shall be calculated as on the last date of receipt of applications.
Selection Process
The competitive examination for direct recruitment shall consist of:
- Written Examination
- Viva-Voce Examination
Candidates qualifying in the written examination will be called for viva-voce in order of merit, in the ratio of three candidates for each available vacancy.
Written Examination Pattern
- Paper I: 80 marks; duration of two hours.
- Paper II: 80 marks; duration of two hours.
- Total Written Examination Marks: 160.
- Each paper shall comprise three parts carrying an equal number of questions.
- Candidates must attempt nine questions in each paper, three from each part.
- Viva-Voce: 40 marks.
Syllabus
The syllabus prescribed under Annexure-C of the official notification covers the following subjects:
Paper I: Essay and precis writing, Constitutional Law, Legal Maxims, Translation, Civil Judgment Writing, Contract and Arbitration Laws, Property Laws, Motor Vehicles Act, Personal Laws, Civil Procedure Code, Interpretation of Statutes, Land Acquisition and related civil laws.
Paper II: Criminal Procedure Code/Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Indian Penal Code/Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Juvenile Justice Act, Criminal Judgment Writing, Indian Evidence Act/Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, laws relating to arms and terrorist activities, Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations, General Financial Rules, Medical Jurisprudence, Prevention of Corruption Act and NDPS Act.
The detailed subject-wise syllabus is provided in Annexure-C of the official recruitment notification.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
- Written Examination: 50% marks for general candidates and 45% for SC/ST and PwBD candidates.
- Viva-Voce: 50% marks for general candidates and 45% for SC/ST and PwBD candidates.
Final Merit
Candidates qualifying in both the written examination and viva-voce shall be selected on the basis of their cumulative marks obtained in the written examination and viva-voce, carrying a total of 200 marks.
Salary
Selected candidates will be appointed in Pay Level J-5, ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660.
Application Fee
Candidates are required to pay an application fee of ₹1,200 through online mode after successful submission of the application form.
Reservation
Candidates seeking reservation benefits must possess valid category certificates as on the prescribed cut-off date. Their candidature will remain provisional until verification of the relevant certificates by the appointing authority.
How to Apply?
- Eligible candidates must submit their applications online through the recruitment portal of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Complete the online application form and pay the prescribed ₹1,200 application fee.
- Upload the required documents, including the date of birth certificate, domicile/residence certificate, law degree, prescribed experience/service certificate and reserved category certificate, wherever applicable.
- Retain a printout of the submitted application, fee payment receipt and supporting documents for submission whenever required.
- Candidates who 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 and who satisfied the applicable eligibility rules at the relevant time, need not apply again.
- Submit the complete application by the extended deadline of 15 November 2026.
- Application Link: [Click Here to Apply]
Important Dates
- Advertisement Notification: 3 October 2026.
- Online Application Commencement: 5 October 2026.
- Original Last Date: 4 November 2026.
- Extension Notification: 31 October 2026.
- Extended Last Date to Apply: 15 November 2026.
Official Notification
Candidates are advised to read the official detailed advertisement and the deadline extension notification carefully before applying.