The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has opened a separate District Judge (Entry Level) direct recruitment for 10 posts under Notification No. 364/2026 dated 30 September 2026. This is not the 119-post Civil Judge (Junior Division) recruitment already published separately on Regal Naukri.
Applications are offline. The prescribed application, supporting records and Demand Draft must reach the Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, Nelapadu, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh – 522239 no later than 15 October 2026 at 5:00 PM.
The notified District Judge pay scale is ₹1,44,840-₹1,94,660. Eligibility is built around substantial legal practice/service: the notification provides routes based on at least seven years as an Advocate, specified combined Advocate and Judicial Officer service, or the prescribed prosecutorial-service route.
Candidate note: The official PDF cover identifies the recruitment as Notification No. 364/2026. The application pro forma inside the same PDF prints 364/2026-RC. Candidates should use the prescribed form supplied with the official notification and follow the wording printed on it.
AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | High Court of Andhra Pradesh |
| Recruitment | District Judge (Entry Level) – Direct Recruitment |
| Notification | 364/2026 dated 30 September 2026 |
| Total posts | 10 |
| Quota | Direct Recruitment (25% quota) |
| Service | A.P. State Judicial Service |
| Pay scale | ₹1,44,840-₹1,94,660 |
| Experience / standing | Minimum seven years under the eligible legal-service routes |
| Age reference date | 1 September 2026 |
| Application mode | Offline |
| Last date | 15 October 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Selection | Screening Test if held, Written Examination and Viva Voce |
Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution
The ten vacancies are distributed across the categories below. Women reservation is identified within the EWS and ST allocations shown in the notification.
| Category | Posts |
|---|---|
| Open Competition | 2 |
| EWS | 2 (including 1 for woman) |
| BC-B | 1 |
| BC-C | 1 |
| BC-E | 1 |
| SC Group-III | 1 |
| ST | 2 (including 1 for woman) |
| Total | 10 |
The High Court reserves the right to alter the number of vacancies or cancel the recruitment at any stage. The notification also states that selection against the BC-E vacancy is subject to the outcome of the cited Supreme Court proceedings.
Who Can Apply?
This recruitment is meant for experienced legal professionals rather than fresh law graduates. The notification provides the following qualifying routes for direct recruitment to District Judge (Entry Level):
| Eligibility route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Advocate route | At least 7 years of practice as an Advocate as on 30 September 2026 |
| Advocate + Judicial Officer route | A combined standing / experience of 7 years or more as Advocate and Judicial Officer as on 30 September 2026 |
| Prosecutorial route | Eligible Assistant Public Prosecutors, Additional Public Prosecutors or Public Prosecutors with the prescribed combined 7 years or more of Advocate/service standing |
Applicants must also satisfy the other eligibility and character conditions in the notification. A full-time salaried Law Officer employed by the Central Government, State Government, a public corporation or a statutory body is stated to be ineligible under the notified conditions.
Because this recruitment uses a professional standing requirement, candidates should prepare documentary proof of practice/service carefully rather than relying only on a Law Degree certificate.
Age Limit
For the unrelaxed age rule, a candidate must have completed 35 years and must not have completed 45 years as on 1 September 2026.
| Category | Age rule |
|---|---|
| General age band | Completed 35 years but not completed 45 years as on 01.09.2026 |
| SC / ST / BC / EWS | Upper age limit relaxable by 3 years |
For an age-boundary check, enter your date of birth and 1 September 2026 in the age tool. Read the resulting completed age against the High Court's notified 35-to-below-45 band and any relaxation that actually applies to your category.
Application Fee and Payment Method
The application fee is payable through a crossed Demand Draft drawn in favour of Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati, payable at Nelapadu.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| OC / BC / EWS | ₹1,500 |
| SC / ST / Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | ₹750 |
The notification states that the fee once remitted is not refundable. An application without the required fee is liable to rejection.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification dated | 30 September 2026 |
| Eligibility / experience reference date | 30 September 2026 where specified |
| Age reckoned as on | 1 September 2026 |
| Last date for receipt of offline application | 15 October 2026, 5:00 PM |
This is a receipt deadline, not merely a posting deadline. The High Court states that it is not responsible for postal or courier delay, so candidates should allow sufficient delivery time.
Selection Process
Selection can involve three stages. The Screening Test is to be conducted for shortlisting if the High Court decides it is necessary based on the number of applications received.
| Stage | Main details |
|---|---|
| Screening Test, if held | Computer-based, 100 MCQs / 100 marks / 2 hours |
| Screening shortlisting | Candidates scoring 40% or above may be shortlisted in the ratio of 1:10 of vacancies, subject to the tie rule |
| Written Examination | 3 papers, 100 marks each, 3 hours per paper |
| Viva Voce | 50 marks; written-qualified candidates called in the ratio of 1:3 of vacancies, subject to ties |
Screening marks are used only for shortlisting and are not added to the final merit calculation.
Written Examination Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Constitution and Civil Law | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | Criminal Law | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | English – Translation and Essay Writing | 100 | 3 hours |
Paper III is divided into 40 marks for Translation and 60 marks for Essay Writing. Translation is between English and Telugu, while the essay component is on legal subjects. The notification requires 40% in each part of Paper III and states that Paper III marks are not counted for Viva Voce eligibility or final selection.
Minimum Written Marks for Viva Voce Eligibility
| Category | Paper I & II minimum | Aggregate requirement stated in notice |
|---|---|---|
| OC / EWS | 55% in each | 60% |
| BC | 50% in each | 55% |
| SC / ST / PwBD | 45% in each | 50% |
Final Aggregate Standard
For selection after Written Examination and Viva Voce, the notification sets the following category-wise aggregate standards:
| Category | Minimum aggregate |
|---|---|
| OC / EWS | 60% |
| BC | 55% |
| SC / ST / PwBD | 50% |
The notice also contains tie-breaking rules based first on age and then, if required, educational qualification and marks in the prescribed qualification.
Documents to Enclose with the Offline Application
The official application is document-heavy. Depending on the candidate's route and category, the notification asks for attested copies or originals of several supporting records.
| Document / proof | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date-of-birth / SSC proof | Age and identity particulars |
| Law Degree and other educational certificates | Qualification record |
| Community / reservation certificate | SC, ST, BC or EWS claim, where applicable |
| BC Non-Creamy Layer certificate | Required for the notified BC reservation benefit |
| EWS certificate | Required for EWS claim under the notified conditions |
| PwBD certificate | Disability reservation / fee concession, where applicable |
| Bar Council enrolment certificate | Professional enrolment proof |
| Original practice certificate from Bar Association | Advocate standing / practice proof |
| Judicial-service certificate | Required where relying on eligible judicial service |
| Prosecutorial-service certificate | Required where relying on APP / Addl. PP / PP service |
| Statements of cases / arguments / orders / judgments | Professional-work record specified by the notice |
| Two testimonials | Character / professional supporting documents specified in the notice |
The notification contains additional detail on how practice and case-work statements should be prepared. Before sending the application, compare your packet against the complete official list. Regal Naukri's Documents Required for Government Jobs guide can help organise records, but the High Court notification controls the exact documents for this recruitment.
How to Apply Offline
- Download the official District Judge notification and prescribed application form.
- Read the eligibility route that applies to your legal practice/service history.
- Complete the prescribed pro forma carefully and attach the recent passport-size photograph in the manner required by the form.
- Gather the attested certificates, practice/service records, testimonials and other enclosures applicable to your candidature.
- Obtain the required crossed Demand Draft for the applicable fee.
- Place the application and enclosures in an envelope superscribed for appointment to District Judge (Entry Level) in the A.P. State Judicial Service under Direct Recruitment.
- Address the packet to The Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, Nelapadu, Guntur District, PIN 522239, Andhra Pradesh.
- Ensure the completed packet reaches the High Court by 15 October 2026 at 5:00 PM. Do not rely on the dispatch date alone.
Candidates should keep a complete copy of the application, Demand Draft details and every enclosure sent. Incomplete applications, applications lacking proof, and applications received after the deadline are liable to summary rejection under the notification.
Important Links
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| District Judge Notification No. 364/2026 | Official notification, rules and prescribed offline application form |
| AP High Court Recruitment Page | Official recruitment updates and notices |
| High Court of Andhra Pradesh | Official court website |
| age tool | Calculate age on the 1 September 2026 cut-off date |
| Documents Required for Government Jobs | Organise supporting records before dispatch |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the AP High Court Civil Judge recruitment for 119 posts?
No. The 119-post recruitment is for Civil Judge (Junior Division) under Notification 118/2026. This article covers the later District Judge (Entry Level) direct recruitment for 10 posts under Notification 364/2026 dated 30 September 2026.
How many District Judge vacancies are available?
The notification advertises 10 District Judge (Entry Level) posts under direct recruitment.
Is the application online?
No. This recruitment uses the prescribed offline application form. The completed packet must reach the Registrar (Recruitment) by the notified deadline.
What is the last date?
Applications must reach the High Court by 15 October 2026 at 5:00 PM.
What legal experience is required?
The notification provides eligible routes centred on at least seven years of legal practice/service, including the Advocate route and specified combined judicial/prosecutorial routes. Candidates should match their own history to the exact route in the notification.
What is the District Judge pay scale?
The notified scale is ₹1,44,840-₹1,94,660.
Is there a Screening Test?
The High Court may conduct a computer-based Screening Test for shortlisting depending on the number of applications received. If held, it carries 100 marks with 100 objective questions over two hours.