The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has released a recruitment notification for 30 District Judge posts through a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) among eligible Civil Judges (Senior Division). The notification was issued on 30 September 2026 under R.O.C. No. 365/2026-RC.
Eligible judicial officers can submit their applications through offline mode. The last date for receipt of applications is 15 October 2026 up to 5:00 PM. The recruitment is specifically for serving judicial officers meeting the prescribed service requirements, so it is not a general recruitment opportunity for law graduates or advocates.
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AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | High Court of Andhra Pradesh |
| Post Name | District Judge |
| Recruitment Type | Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) |
| Total Vacancies | 30 |
| Advertisement Number | R.O.C. No. 365/2026-RC |
| Notification Date | 30 September 2026 |
| Application Mode | Offline |
| Last Date | 15 October 2026 |
| Last Time | 5:00 PM |
| Pay Scale | ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 per month |
| Job Location | Andhra Pradesh |
| Official Website | High Court of Andhra Pradesh |
The official AP High Court recruitment page lists the 30 District Judge vacancies under LDCE separately from the 10 District Judge (Entry Level) posts notified under direct recruitment. Therefore, candidates should not confuse these two recruitment notifications.
AP High Court District Judge Vacancy 2026
A total of 30 District Judge vacancies are available under this recruitment.
The recruitment is conducted through a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination among the category of Civil Judge (Senior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.
Post-Wise Vacancy
| Post | Number of Posts |
|---|---|
| District Judge | 30 |
| Total | 30 |
Candidates should refer to the official notification for the applicable category-wise vacancy details, reservation provisions and other service-related conditions before submitting the application.
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Who Can Apply for AP High Court District Judge Recruitment?
This recruitment is not open to all law graduates or practicing advocates.
The notification is for eligible Civil Judges (Senior Division) through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination. According to recruitment details reported from the notification, applicants must have completed the prescribed qualifying service as Civil Judge (Senior Division) and the required total judicial service.
Educational and Service Qualification
Candidates should satisfy the prescribed judicial service requirements.
The reported eligibility conditions include:
- The applicant should be a Civil Judge (Senior Division).
- The candidate should have completed at least 3 years of qualifying service as Civil Judge (Senior Division) by the prescribed date.
- The candidate should have at least 7 years of total service in the judicial service, including qualifying service as Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Civil Judge (Senior Division).
- Candidates must satisfy all other conditions prescribed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court notification.
The service requirement is particularly important because this is an internal departmental competitive examination, rather than an open-market District Judge recruitment.
Age Limit
The maximum age limit reported for the recruitment is 35 years as on 1 September 2026. Candidates should check the official notification for the precise application of age-related conditions and any applicable relaxation.
Because this is a judicial-service recruitment, applicants should read the age and service provisions together rather than considering the age limit alone.
AP High Court District Judge Salary
Selected candidates appointed to the District Judge post will receive a pay scale of:
₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 per month
The applicable allowances and service benefits will be governed by the relevant rules and conditions of the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.
Application Fee
The available recruitment information does not indicate an application fee for this District Judge LDCE recruitment. Candidates should nevertheless verify the notification and application instructions before submitting their forms.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of multiple stages.
Computer-Based Screening Test
A Computer-Based Screening Test is used for screening candidates. Depending on the number of candidates and the prescribed screening criteria, candidates may be shortlisted for the next stage.
Written Examination
Candidates who qualify through the screening stage are required to appear for the written examination.
The reported written examination includes the following papers:
| Paper | Subject |
|---|---|
| Paper I | Constitution and Civil Law |
| Paper II | Criminal Law |
| Paper III | English Translation and Essay Writing |
Candidates should use the official notification as the final reference for the detailed syllabus, marks, duration, qualifying requirements and examination instructions.
Viva Voce
Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for Viva Voce.
The final selection will be made according to the conditions and selection procedure prescribed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
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Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 30 September 2026 |
| Application Mode | Offline |
| Last Date for Application | 15 October 2026 |
| Last Time | 5:00 PM |
The official High Court recruitment page confirms that the 30-post District Judge LDCE notification was issued on 30 September 2026.
How to Apply Offline
Eligible candidates should follow the application instructions provided by the High Court.
Step 1: Visit the Official Website
Go to the official website of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
High Court of Andhra Pradesh Official Website
Step 2: Open the Recruitment Section
Go to the Recruitment section and locate the notification titled:
“RECRUITMENT – DISTRICT JUDGE THROUGH A LIMITED DEPARTMENTAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION (LDCE)”
The official recruitment page currently lists this notification dated 30 September 2026.
Step 3: Download the Notification and Application Form
Read the complete notification carefully and download the prescribed application form.
Step 4: Fill in the Application Form
Enter all required information carefully, including the candidate’s:
- Name
- Service details
- Date of birth
- Judicial service details
- Designation
- Communication details
- Examination-related information
- Other information requested in the prescribed form
Step 5: Attach Required Documents
Attach the documents and certificates required by the notification.
Candidates should make sure that copies are prepared and authenticated or self-attested wherever the notification requires it.
Step 6: Submit Through the Prescribed Channel
The application must be submitted through the prescribed offline departmental process and reach the designated office by the deadline.
The reported last date for receipt of applications is 15 October 2026 by 5:00 PM.
Step 7: Keep a Copy of the Application
Candidates should keep a copy of the completed application and supporting documents for their records.
Documents Required
Candidates should check the official notification for the exact list applicable to them. Documents generally relevant to this type of departmental judicial recruitment may include:
- Completed application form
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Proof of date of birth
- Relevant judicial service records
- Service certificate
- Documents supporting qualifying service
- Other certificates or declarations prescribed by the notification
The official notification should be treated as the final authority regarding the documents, format and authentication requirements.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Candidates applying for AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 should keep the following points in mind:
- This is an LDCE recruitment, not an open recruitment for fresh law graduates.
- Eligibility depends heavily on the candidate’s existing judicial service.
- Verify the required qualifying service before applying.
- Check the age condition as on the prescribed date.
- Use only the application form prescribed by the High Court.
- Ensure all required documents are enclosed.
- Do not wait until the final day to dispatch the application.
- Make sure the application reaches the designated office before 5:00 PM on 15 October 2026.
- Keep a photocopy of the complete application and supporting documents.
- Check the official AP High Court website for subsequent notices, examination schedules and updates.
AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026: Important Distinction
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has also issued a separate notification for 10 District Judge (Entry Level) posts through direct recruitment.
Therefore, there are two different District Judge recruitment notifications around the same time:
| Recruitment | Vacancies | Method |
|---|---|---|
| District Judge through LDCE | 30 | Departmental competitive examination |
| District Judge (Entry Level) | 10 | Direct recruitment |
The official recruitment page lists both notifications separately.
Candidates should select the notification applicable to their eligibility instead of assuming that both recruitments have the same qualification requirements.
AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 FAQs
How many District Judge posts are available?
There are 30 District Judge posts under the 2026 Limited Departmental Competitive Examination recruitment.
What is the last date to apply?
The last date for receipt of applications is 15 October 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
What is the application mode?
The application mode is offline.
Who is eligible for this recruitment?
The recruitment is intended for eligible Civil Judges (Senior Division) who satisfy the prescribed qualifying-service and other conditions.
What is the salary of a District Judge?
The reported pay scale is ₹1,44,840 to ₹1,94,660 per month.(FreshersLive)
What is the selection process?
The selection process includes a Computer-Based Screening Test, Written Examination and Viva Voce, subject to the detailed provisions of the official notification.
Is this recruitment open to fresh law graduates?
No. This particular notification is for recruitment through LDCE among Civil Judges (Senior Division). It should not be confused with the separate District Judge Entry Level direct recruitment notification.
Where can I download the official notification?
The notification is available through the Recruitment Notifications section of the official High Court of Andhra Pradesh website.
Official recruitment page: AP High Court Recruitment Notifications