Orissa High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026: 46 Posts, Eligibility and How to Apply
If you are a serving judicial officer in Odisha, this one is for you. The High Court of Orissa, Cuttack has announced 46 vacancies in the cadre of District Judge, to be filled through a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for 2026. The pay scale is ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 with usual D.A. and other allowances. Only eligible judicial officers can apply, so it is a closed contest with a clear set of rules.
The online application window runs from 9 November 2026 (10:00 A.M.) to 25 November 2026 (11:59 P.M.). Read the service conditions, the marking scheme and the rejection rules in this article before you log in. You can also browse more Odisha government jobs on GovtJobsAlert.in while you prepare.
What Are the Key Highlights of Orissa High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Court of Orissa, Cuttack |
| Post | District Judge (through LDCE) |
| Advertisement | Advertisement No. 04 of 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 46 (Forty six) |
| Pay Scale | ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 plus usual D.A. |
| Who Can Apply | Serving Judicial Officers only |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Last Date | 25 November 2026, 11:59 P.M. |
The Court has said the number of vacancies is subject to change at its discretion. It has also reserved the right to cancel the whole recruitment process, or any part of it, at any stage without giving a reason. Treat the figure of 46 as the position today and check the Court’s website for any change before you apply.
How Many Vacancies Are There in Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026?
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| District Judge (through LDCE) | 46 |
The notification gives only the total of 46. It does not give a category-wise split, so do not rely on any seat table you see elsewhere.
Who Is Eligible for Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026?
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Serving Judicial Officers |
| Service as Civil Judge (Senior Division) | At least 3 years of qualifying service |
| Combined service | Minimum 7 years as Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Civil Judge (Senior Division) together |
| Counted as on | 1 April 2026 |
The notification counts service in two different ways:
- For Civil Judge (Senior Division) service, the date of notification of promotion to that cadre is taken.
- For Civil Judge (Junior Division) service, the date of entry into judicial service as Civil Judge (Junior Division) is taken.
The notification states service eligibility only. It does not list an age limit or an educational qualification, so check the official website if you have any doubt. Work out your exact service on 1 April 2026 before you apply, using the dates on your promotion notification and your joining order. A mistake here can lead to rejection at any stage, because admission to every stage is provisional. If you are looking at other legal posts, see our page on law and judicial government jobs.
What Is the Salary for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
The notification gives the pay scale as ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660, with usual D.A. and other allowances as admissible from time to time. It does not name a pay level. Selected officers must also go through a course of training under Rule 30-A, and all of them will be on probation as per Rule 33 of the O.S.J.S. and O.J.S. Rules, 2007.
What Is the Selection Process and Exam Pattern for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
This exam gives weight to your own service record, not just your written marks, so your past work counts. The final merit list is made on the total marks from five parts: the written test, the viva-voce, the evaluation of CCRs / PARs / ACRs, the disposal rate and the assessment of quality of judgments.
| Stage | Marks and Detail |
|---|---|
| Written Examination | Two papers, 75 marks each, 2 hours per paper |
| Viva-Voce | 30 marks |
| CCRs / PARs / ACRs | 20 marks, for the 5 years just before the year of examination |
| Disposal Rate | 10 marks, for the preceding 5 years |
| Quality of Judgments | 20 marks |
Paper 1 (75 marks)
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | 25 |
| Personal Laws | 25 |
| Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Limitation Act, Law of Contract, three Odisha land laws, Motor Accident and Claims law, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Commercial Courts Act, 2015 | 25 |
Paper 2 (75 marks)
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | 20 |
| Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 20 |
| Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | 20 |
| Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, Prevention of Corruption Act, Essential Commodities Act, Environment Protection Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, POCSO Act, 2012, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 | 15 |
The three Odisha land laws in Paper 1 are the Consolidation of Holding and Prevention of Fragmentation of Land Act, the Estate Abolition Act and the Land Reforms Act.
Cut-offs you must clear:
- To be called for the viva-voce, you need at least 50% marks in aggregate across both written papers and not less than 45% in each individual paper.
- You will not be selected unless you secure at least 40% marks in the viva-voce.
For the judgment assessment, you must submit two judgments of your choice, along with a list of 10 contested judgments you delivered as Civil Judge (Senior Division). The list must give the court, case number, names of the parties and the date of delivery. Three more judgments are then picked at random from your list, so five judgments are evaluated in all. Prepare this list early, because the random picks come from it. Our syllabus and exam pattern page can help you plan your revision.
How to Apply Online for Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the advertisement and the “Instructions to Candidates and Process Flow for Filling up of Online Application Form” on the Court’s website |
| 2 | Open the official website (link in Essential Links below) and go to Recruitment Corner, then Examination Portal, then the LDCE for District Judge, 2026 link |
| 3 | Log in and fill the application form |
| 4 | Upload a recent passport size colour photograph and your full signature |
| 5 | Submit the form well before the closing date |
Both uploads must be clearly visible with proper orientation, and the signature must be on a white background. You must apply within the due date and time, under intimation to your concerned Controlling Authority. Do not wait for the last day, as the Court itself advises early submission to avoid the last-minute rush.
What Are the Important Dates for Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 4 November 2026 |
| Application Opens | 9 November 2026, 10:00 A.M. |
| Last Date to Apply | 25 November 2026, 11:59 P.M. |
| Service Counted As On | 1 April 2026 |
| Exam Dates | To be published on the High Court website |
What Is the Application Fee for Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026?
The notification does not mention any application fee or payment mode.
Which Rules Can Cancel Your Candidature in Orissa High Court LDCE 2026?
| Rule | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Incomplete or incorrect form | Will not be entertained and will be summarily rejected without any reason |
| Other modes of applying | Applications other than the prescribed online format are rejected |
| Provisional admission | If you do not meet the eligibility at any stage, your candidature is liable for rejection |
| Duplicate applications | Only the latest one, with the higher Acknowledgement Number, is considered |
| Missing any stage | If you fail to attend any stage of the examination, your candidature is rejected |
| Canvassing | Canvassing in any form is a disqualification |
| Travel | No T.A. / D.A. is paid for appearing in the examination |
| Admit card | No admission letter is sent by post; check the Court’s website for the e-Admit Card |
The Court will publish the list of eligible applicants on its website and notice board. Notices about the date and time of each stage will also come on the website, so visit it regularly.
Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026 Essential Links
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Visit Orissa High Court District Judge (LDCE) Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram for Odisha Govt Jobs
If you meet the service conditions, start gathering your photograph and your signature now, and apply by 25 November 2026. For more updates like this, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in and our Odisha government jobs page.