The High Court of Orissa has opened a separate Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for promotion to 30 posts in the cadre of Civil Judge (Senior Division) under Advertisement No. 05 of 2026. The advertisement was dated 4 November 2026 and listed by the High Court on 5 November, with online applications scheduled from 9 November 2026 at 10:00 AM to 25 November 2026 at 11:59 PM. This recruitment is exclusively for serving Judicial Officers already working as Civil Judge (Junior Division); it is not open to advocates, law graduates or outside candidates. At a basic level, an officer must have completed three years of qualifying service as Civil Judge (Junior Division) as on 1 April 2026. The post carries the notified pay scale of ₹1,11,000–₹1,63,030 with usual DA and admissible allowances. Selection is substantial and exam-based: two written papers of 100 marks each, a 30-mark viva-voce and a 15-mark assessment of service records, giving a total of 245 marks. The written syllabus covers civil and criminal law, including both legacy codes and the new Bharatiya criminal laws, along with Odisha-specific statutes. Candidates should prepare from the exact notified syllabus rather than borrowing patterns from District Judge recruitment.
Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Court of Orissa, Cuttack |
| Advertisement No. | 05 of 2026 |
| Post | Civil Judge (Senior Division) |
| Recruitment route | Limited Departmental Competitive Examination |
| Advertisement date | 4 November 2026 |
| High Court listing date | 5 November 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 30 |
| Eligible candidates | Serving Civil Judge (Junior Division) officers only |
| Application start | 9 November 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last date | 25 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Pay scale | ₹1,11,000–₹1,63,030 + admissible allowances |
| Selection | Written Exam + Viva + Service Record Assessment |
Vacancy Details
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Civil Judge (Senior Division) through LDCE | 30 |
| Total | 30 |
Basic Eligibility
Only serving Judicial Officers in the cadre of Civil Judge (Junior Division) can apply.
Candidates must have completed at least 3 years of qualifying service as Civil Judge (Junior Division) as on 1 April 2026.
Age Limit
The advertisement does not prescribe a separate public age limit for this departmental examination. Eligibility is based on service in the Civil Judge (Junior Division) cadre.
Pay Scale
The notified scale is ₹1,11,000–₹1,63,030, with usual Dearness Allowance and other admissible allowances.
Application Fee
The advertisement does not specify an application fee.
Selection Process
Selection has three components:
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Written Paper I | 100 |
| Written Paper II | 100 |
| Viva-Voce | 30 |
| CCR/PAR/ACR assessment | 15 |
| Total | 245 |
To qualify for viva-voce, candidates must secure at least 50% aggregate in the two written papers and at least 45% in each paper.
A candidate must also secure at least 40% of the viva-voce marks for final selection.
Exam Pattern
Written Examination
| Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I – Civil Law | 2 hours | 100 |
| Paper II – Criminal Law | 2 hours | 100 |
The High Court has not notified a question count or negative-marking scheme in the available recruitment details. Therefore, none is assumed here.
Viva-Voce
The viva carries 30 marks and tests the candidate’s suitability and legal/judicial competence.
Service Record Assessment
CCRs/PARs/ACRs for the three years immediately preceding the examination year carry 15 marks.
Official Syllabus
Paper I – Civil Law: 100 Marks
| Area | Marks |
|---|---|
| Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | 30 |
| Personal Laws | 30 |
| Other Civil / Odisha-specific laws | 40 |
The 40-mark group includes:
- Transfer of Property Act
- Specific Relief Act
- Limitation Act
- Law of Contract
- Odisha Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation of Land Act
- Odisha Estate Abolition Act
- Odisha Land Reforms Act
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act
- Commercial Courts Act
- Odisha Survey and Settlement Act
- Odisha Prevention of Land Encroachment Act
- Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Act
Paper II – Criminal Law: 100 Marks
| Area | Marks |
|---|---|
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 + Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | 25 |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 + Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 25 |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 + Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | 25 |
| Notified Special Acts | 25 |
The Special Acts component includes the laws specified in the notified LDCE syllabus. Candidates should use the official advertisement/rules for the exact current list and avoid importing statutes from the separate District Judge LDCE syllabus.
For preparation methodology, use Regal Naukri’s Government Exam Syllabus & Pattern Guide to organise each paper by stage, marks and topic.
Exam Date
The High Court has not yet published the date and time of each stage of the examination.
Candidates should monitor the official Recruitment Corner for the written-exam and viva schedule.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement dated | 4 November 2026 |
| High Court publication | 5 November 2026 |
| Online application opens | 9 November 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last date | 25 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Written examination | To be notified |
| Viva-voce | To be notified |
How to Apply for Orissa High Court Civil Judge Senior Division LDCE 2026
- Read the official Advertisement No. 05 of 2026 and confirm the three-year judicial-service requirement.
- Use Regal Naukri’s Eligibility Pre-check to organise the service cut-off and eligibility conditions.
- Open the High Court Recruitment Corner and enter the Examination Portal when applications open.
- Keep a recent passport-size colour photograph and full signature ready in the prescribed format.
- Use the Government Job Document Checklist to organise service and identity records before submission.
- Review the Government Exam Syllabus & Pattern Guide before beginning written-exam preparation.
- Submit the online application between 9 and 25 November 2026.
- Intimate the concerned Controlling Authority after applying.
- Save the acknowledgment number and final application for later examination stages.
Documents / Records to Keep Ready
- Recent colour photograph
- Full signature
- Service particulars
- Judicial-service entry details
- Identity details
- Other records required by the High Court application portal
Important Candidate Notes
- This is a departmental promotion examination, not an open recruitment.
- Advocates and outside candidates cannot apply.
- Only the latest application is considered if more than one application is submitted.
- No admission letter will be sent by post; examination notices and e-admit cards will be published online.
- No TA/DA is payable for appearing in the examination.
- Candidates should use the syllabus for Civil Judge (Senior Division) LDCE, not the separate District Judge LDCE syllabus.
Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Official notification | Advertisement No. 05 of 2026 |
| Recruitment Corner | High Court of Orissa Recruitment Corner |
| Governing judicial service rules | OSJS & OJS Rules |
| Official website | High Court of Orissa |
FAQ
How many Civil Judge Senior Division vacancies are available?
There are 30 vacancies through LDCE.
Who can apply?
Only serving Civil Judge (Junior Division) officers with at least three years of qualifying service as on 1 April 2026.
When do applications open?
9 November 2026 at 10:00 AM.
What is the last date?
25 November 2026 at 11:59 PM.
What is the written exam pattern?
Two papers of 100 marks each, each lasting two hours.
What is the official syllabus?
Paper I covers Civil Law and Odisha-specific civil statutes; Paper II covers criminal procedure, penal law, evidence and notified special laws.
What marks are needed to reach viva?
At least 50% aggregate across both written papers and at least 45% in each paper.
What is the total selection score?
245 marks: 200 written + 30 viva + 15 service-record assessment.