AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026: 16 Senior Division LDCE Promotion Posts Explained
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati has issued Notification R.O.C.No. 366/2026-RC for 16 vacancies of Civil Judge (Senior Division). Please read the next line before you get excited: this is not an open recruitment. It is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for accelerated promotion, and only serving Civil Judges (Junior Division) of the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service may apply. If you are a fresh law graduate hoping for an entry into the judiciary, this particular Andhra Pradesh government job is not the one for you.
If you are already a Civil Judge (Junior Division) with at least three years of service by 31 March 2026, this is a genuine shortcut to the senior cadre and to a pay scale of Rs 1,11,000 – 1,63,030. There is no online portal here. You fill the printed pro forma attached to the notification, attach a Demand Draft, and hand the set in at the office of your Principal District Judge before 5.00 PM on 1 October 2026. This guide from GovtJobsAlert.in walks you through every condition so nothing catches you out.
What Are the Key Highlights of AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 LDCE?
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati controls appointments and promotions in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service. This notification fills the Civil Judge (Senior Division) cadre by accelerated promotion, which simply means officers who do well in this examination move up faster than the normal seniority route allows. The Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026 govern the entire process.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati |
| Notification | R.O.C.No. 366/2026-RC dated 17 September 2026 |
| Post | Civil Judge (Senior Division) by Accelerated Promotion (LDCE) |
| Total Vacancies | 16 |
| Who Can Apply | Serving Civil Judges (Junior Division) of the A.P. State Judicial Service only |
| Pay Scale | Rs 1,11,000 – 1,63,030 |
| Job Location | Andhra Pradesh |
| Application Mode | Offline pro forma to the concerned Principal District Judge |
| Last Date | 1 October 2026, 5.00 PM |
How Many Vacancies Are There in AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026?
All 16 seats are in the single cadre of Civil Judge (Senior Division). The split below is the one printed in the notification, so check the row that matches your own category.
| Category | Number of Posts |
|---|---|
| OC | 12 |
| SC Group-I | 1 |
| SC Group-II | 1 |
| SC Group-III | 1 |
| ST | 1 |
| Total | 16 |
Vertical reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes applies under the A.P. State Judicial (Service & Cadre) Rules, 2026 read with the amended Rules 22 and 22-A of the A.P. State and Subordinate Service Rules. One more line deserves your attention: the High Court reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of vacancies, or to cancel the notification, at any stage without assigning any reason, and no right accrues to you merely because this notification exists.
Who Is Eligible for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026?
Who Can Apply
| Requirement | What the Notification Says |
|---|---|
| Present cadre | You must be serving as Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service |
| Length of service | Not less than 3 years as Civil Judge (Junior Division) by the end of 31 March 2026 |
| Open to the public? | No. This is an internal examination for accelerated promotion only |
This is one of the few law and judicial service opportunities where the qualification is counted in years of service rather than in degrees. The notification prescribes no minimum or maximum age for this examination, though the pro forma asks your age as on 1 September 2026.
Who Cannot Apply
| Disqualification | Effect on You |
|---|---|
| Facing disciplinary charges, or undergoing punishment for any irregularity in the discharge of duties | Shall not be eligible for appointment by promotion through this LDCE |
| Found to be of doubtful integrity in any year | Shall not be eligible even to appear for the post of Civil Judge (Senior Division) |
The notification lists these two disqualifications separately from the qualifications, and both bars are absolute. The pro forma asks you directly whether you are facing a disciplinary enquiry or have undergone punishment. Answer it honestly and furnish the details, because the High Court’s decision on your eligibility is final at every stage.
What Is the Salary for AP High Court Civil Judge (Senior Division) LDCE 2026?
The notification states one pay figure, and this is it.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Scale of pay, Civil Judge (Senior Division) | Rs 1,11,000 – 1,63,030 |
The scale of pay for the post of Civil Judge (Senior Division) is Rs 1,11,000 – 1,63,030, exactly as printed in the notification.
Allowances are not listed separately in this notification, so treat the scale above as the only confirmed figure and do not plan around an assumed in-hand amount. What makes this worth the effort is not one month’s pay but the seniority: accelerated promotion moves you into the senior cadre earlier than the ordinary seniority route allows.
What Is the Selection Process for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Screening Test (only if held) | Computer based, 100 multiple choice questions, 100 marks, 2 hours. Held only if the number of applications received makes shortlisting necessary |
| Written Examination | Three papers, 100 marks each, 3 hours per paper |
| Viva Voce | 50 marks; candidates called in the ratio of 1:3 of the available vacancies |
| Verification | All original certificates to be produced on the day of the Viva Voce |
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Civil Laws | 100 |
| Paper-II | Criminal Laws | 100 |
| Paper-III | English: Translation (40) and Essay (60) | 100 |
| Qualifying Requirement | Marks Needed |
|---|---|
| Screening test shortlist | 40% and above, shortlisted in the ratio of 1:10 of vacancies |
| Paper-I and Paper-II | Not less than 55% in each paper |
| Written examination aggregate | Not less than 60% |
| Each part of Paper-III | Not less than 40% |
| Final selection | Not less than 60% in the aggregate of written examination and Viva Voce |
Two details decide how you should prepare. Screening test marks are not added to the written examination and are not counted for the final merit list, so treat that paper purely as a gate. Paper-III marks are also not taken into account for viva voce eligibility or for selection, though you still must clear 40% in each of its two parts. Answers must be written only in English except in the translation portion, which runs between English and Telugu, and the essay must be on legal subjects only. If two candidates finish level, the elder in age is preferred, then the higher educational qualification, then the higher marks in the prescribed qualification. The syllabus lists 18 civil law subjects and 10 criminal law subjects, including the BNS, BNSS and BSA of 2023, so work through the exam syllabus and pattern methodically rather than in a rush.
What Conditions Can Cost You Your Candidature in AP High Court LDCE 2026?
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Late application | Applications received after the last date will be summarily rejected |
| Incomplete application | Unsigned applications, applications not properly filled and applications without the necessary enclosures are liable to be rejected summarily |
| Missing originals | If you fail to produce any required certificate on the day of the Viva Voce, your candidature will be rejected without any further correspondence |
| Absence at Viva Voce | A candidate who stays away from the Viva Voce is deemed to have been disqualified for selection |
| No Hall Ticket | Only candidates issued with Hall Tickets shall be admitted for the examination |
| Below the cut-off | Candidates who secure less than the prescribed percentage will be ineligible for selection |
| Travel costs | No TA and DA will be paid for the Screening Test, Written Examination or Viva Voce |
How to Apply Offline for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026?
Keep these ready before you begin: your Service Certificate in the cadre of Civil Judge (Junior Division), your appointment order, attested copies of your SSC or date of birth certificate and Law Degree, a community certificate showing your group if you are claiming SC or ST reservation, and the Demand Draft for your fee.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Take a printout of the pro forma application appended to the notification (link in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Fill it in, paste a recent passport size photograph and sign it |
| 3 | Get the photograph and signature attested by your concerned Unit Head or Principal District Judge |
| 4 | Fill all four Hall Ticket-cum-Identity Card forms appended to the notification: original and duplicate for the Screening Test, original and duplicate for the Written Examination |
| 5 | Prepare the Demand Draft in favour of “Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati” |
| 6 | Attach the attested certificates, the Service Certificate and the appointment order |
| 7 | Submit the complete set in the office of the concerned Principal District Judge before 5.00 PM on 1 October 2026 |
The Service Certificate and the appointment order are the two enclosures nobody can supply for you later. Start the attestation this week, because a form that arrives complete on 30 September is safe and one that arrives short of an enclosure on 1 October is not.
What Are the Important Dates for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 17 September 2026 |
| Service eligibility cut-off | 31 March 2026 |
| Last date and time for receipt of applications | 1 October 2026, 5.00 PM |
| Screening test and written examination | Date, time and centre will be printed on the Hall Ticket |
What Is the Application Fee for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Open Category / EWS / BC | Rs 1,000 |
| SC / ST / Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | Rs 500 |
The fee is paid by Demand Draft in favour of “Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati”. The draft must travel with your application, because that is the only mode of payment this notification provides for.
Essential Links for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Visit AP High Court Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram for Andhra Pradesh Govt Jobs
If you are a serving Civil Judge (Junior Division) who has completed three years by 31 March 2026, this is the fastest route into the senior cadre, and there are only 16 seats. Collect your Service Certificate and appointment order now rather than in the last week, since attestation always takes longer than you expect. Your application must reach the concerned Principal District Judge by 5.00 PM on 1 October 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Andhra Pradesh government job updates.