The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati has issued Notification No.118/2026-RC dated 25 September 2026 for appointment to 119 Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.
The recruitment comprises 96 vacancies under Direct Recruitment and 23 vacancies under Recruitment by Transfer. The notified pay scale is ₹77,840–₹1,36,520.
Online applications will be accepted from 1 October 2026 to 26 October 2026, with the application portal closing at 11:59 PM on 26 October 2026.
AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati |
| Notification | No.118/2026-RC dated 25.09.2026 |
| Post | Civil Judge (Junior Division) |
| Service | Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service |
| Total vacancies | 119 |
| Direct Recruitment | 96 |
| Recruitment by Transfer | 23 |
| Pay scale | ₹77,840–₹1,36,520 |
| Application mode | Online |
| Application start | 1 October 2026 |
| Last date | 26 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Selection | Screening Test, Written Examination and Viva Voce |
Vacancy Details
Direct Recruitment — 96 Posts
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| Open Competition | 39 |
| EWS | 9 |
| BC-A | 7 |
| BC-B | 10 |
| BC-C | 1 |
| BC-D | 6 |
| BC-E | 4 |
| SC Group-I | 1 |
| SC Group-II | 7 |
| SC Group-III | 6 |
| ST | 6 |
| Total | 96 |
The notification also specifies horizontal reservation for women and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities within the applicable categories.
Recruitment by Transfer — 23 Posts
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| Open Competition | 18 |
| SC Group-I | 1 |
| SC Group-III | 1 |
| ST | 3 |
| Total | 23 |
Eligibility
Direct Recruitment
Law graduates who obtained their Law Degree preceding one year as on the date of notification are stated to be eligible to appear for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) recruitment for 2026, subject to the conditions in the notification and the referenced Supreme Court judgment / pending amendments to the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026.
Applicants must also satisfy the citizenship, character and other eligibility conditions specified by the High Court.
Recruitment by Transfer
Applicants must possess a Degree in Law awarded by a university established by law in India.
They must also be a confirmed member or approved probationer in one of the eligible service categories listed in the notification.
These include specified posts in:
- High Court of Andhra Pradesh
- District Judiciary
- Prosecution Services
- Law Department
- Legislature Department
- specified offices connected with the Advocate General, Government Pleaders and Public Prosecutors
Candidates applying through Recruitment by Transfer should read the official notification for the complete eligible-category list and applicable service conditions.
Age Limit
Direct Recruitment
An applicant must not have completed 35 years of age as on 1 September 2026.
The upper age limit is relaxable by:
- 5 years for SC, ST, BC and EWS candidates;
- 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities; and
- qualifying Defence service is excluded while computing age as specified in the notification.
Recruitment by Transfer
An applicant must not have completed 48 years of age as on 1 September 2026.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 25 September 2026 |
| Online application starts | 1 October 2026 |
| Online application closes | 26 October 2026 |
| Closing time | 11:59 PM |
| Screening Test hall ticket | Before one week of Screening Test |
| Screening Test | To be notified |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Open / EWS / BC | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST / Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | ₹750 |
The notification states that only applicants belonging to a community recognised as SC / ST in Andhra Pradesh are entitled to the concessional SC / ST examination fee.
Payment must be made online. The examination fee once paid is not refundable.
Documents for Direct Recruitment
Applicants should upload the documents applicable to their candidature, including:
- SSC / date-of-birth proof
- Law Degree certificate
- relevant community certificate
- reservation certificates, where applicable
- latest BC community certificate
- Non-Creamy Layer certificate for eligible BC candidates
- EWS certificate, where applicable
- PwBD certificate, where applicable
- discharge certificate for Ex-Servicemen claiming the relevant benefit
Original certificates must be produced when directed by the High Court for verification.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of:
- Computer Based Screening Test
- Written Examination
- Viva Voce
Screening Test
The High Court will conduct a Computer Based Screening Test for 100 marks.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 multiple-choice objective questions |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Shortlisting benchmark | 40% or above |
| Shortlisting ratio | 1:10 of available vacancies |
Candidates obtaining 40% or above are considered for shortlisting for the Written Examination in the ratio of 1:10 of available vacancies, subject to the notification conditions.
Marks obtained in the Screening Test are not added to the Written Examination marks and do not determine final merit.
Written Examination
The Written Examination consists of three papers of 100 marks each, with 3 hours for each paper.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Civil Laws | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | Criminal Laws | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | English — Translation and Essay Writing | 100 | 3 hours |
| Total | 300 |
Paper III includes translation and essay-writing components. Candidates should refer to the official notification for the detailed qualifying conditions and treatment of marks for selection.
Viva Voce
The Viva Voce carries 50 marks.
Qualified candidates are called for Viva Voce in the ratio of 1:3 of available vacancies in the respective categories, subject to the tie provisions specified in the notification.
Screening Test Centres
Applicants may opt for any three centres in order of preference:
- Guntur
- Kurnool
- Rajahmundry (Rajamahendravaram)
- Tirupati
- Vijayawada
- Visakhapatnam
The High Court may change or allot examination centres for administrative reasons.
Training After Selection
Selected candidates are designated Trainee Judicial Officers.
They undergo:
- one year of intensive training at the Judicial Academy; followed by
- one year of structured Law Clerkship.
The notification specifies the applicable remuneration during training and the process leading to appointment to the regular post after satisfactory completion and evaluation.
How to Apply
- Visit the Official High Court of Andhra Pradesh Website.
- Open Notification No.118/2026-RC dated 25 September 2026.
- Read the eligibility conditions for Direct Recruitment or Recruitment by Transfer carefully.
- Open the online application facility during the notified application window.
- Complete personal, educational, category and service details carefully.
- Upload the required certificates and supporting documents.
- Pay the applicable online examination fee.
- Review all submitted information carefully before final submission.
- Submit the application by 26 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
- Save the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.
Candidates should verify eligibility, reservation documents and all uploaded information carefully before final submission because the notification states that submitted particulars are treated as final.
Important Links
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| High Court of Andhra Pradesh Official Website | Official recruitment updates and notices |
| Civil Judge Notification No.118/2026-RC | Official recruitment notification |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Civil Judge vacancies are advertised?
There are 119 vacancies: 96 under Direct Recruitment and 23 under Recruitment by Transfer.
What is the pay scale?
The notified pay scale is ₹77,840–₹1,36,520.
When can candidates apply?
The online application window runs from 1 October 2026 to 26 October 2026. Applications close at 11:59 PM on the last date.
What is the age limit for Direct Recruitment?
Applicants must not have completed 35 years of age as on 1 September 2026, subject to the applicable relaxation specified in the notification.
What is the age limit for Recruitment by Transfer?
Applicants must not have completed 48 years of age as on 1 September 2026.
What is the selection process?
The selection process includes a Computer Based Screening Test, Written Examination and Viva Voce.
How many marks are in the Written Examination?
The Written Examination carries a total of 300 marks across three papers.
How many marks are in the Viva Voce?
The Viva Voce carries 50 marks.
What is the application fee?
Open, EWS and BC applicants pay ₹1,500. Eligible SC, ST and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities applicants pay ₹750, subject to the notification conditions.
What happens after final selection?
Selected candidates are designated Trainee Judicial Officers and undergo one year of intensive training followed by one year of structured Law Clerkship, subject to the conditions in the notification.