Orissa High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 Notification: 38 Posts, Eligibility and Online Form
The High Court of Orissa, Cuttack has invited online applications for 38 vacancies in the cadre of District Judge by direct recruitment. If you are an advocate or a judicial officer with seven years behind you and fluent Odia, this Odisha post is for you. The pay scale is Rs 1,44,840 to Rs 1,94,660 with usual D.A. and other allowances.
The online form opens at 10:00 AM on 9 November 2026 and closes at 11:59 PM on 25 November 2026. Read the experience, age and Odia-language conditions below before you start. Candidates looking for more law and judicial government jobs can find them on GovtJobsAlert.in.
What Are the Key Highlights of Orissa High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | High Court of Orissa, Cuttack |
| Post | District Judge (Direct Recruitment) |
| Advertisement No. | 03 of 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 38 (Women 13) |
| Pay Scale | Rs 1,44,840 to Rs 1,94,660 with D.A. and allowances |
| Application Window | 9 November 2026 to 25 November 2026 |
| Mode | Online only |
| Job Location | Odisha |
The recruitment is conducted under the Orissa Superior Judicial Service and Orissa Judicial Service Rules, 2007 and later amendments.
How Many Vacancies Are There in Orissa High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Posts | Of which Women |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 19 | 7 |
| S.E.B.C. | 4 | 1 |
| Scheduled Caste | 6 | 2 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 9 | 3 |
| Total | 38 | 13 |
Out of the 38 posts, 3 posts are filled by horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities with physical disability, excluding cerebral palsy. If enough eligible women are not available in a category, men of that category fill the posts. If enough SC, ST or SEBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates are not available, unreserved candidates fill them. The Court can change the number of vacancies at its discretion and can cancel the whole process or any part of it at any stage without giving a reason.
What Is the Eligibility for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education | Graduate in Law from a recognised University or an institution recognised by the Government |
| Experience, route 1 | Advocate in continuous practice for not less than 7 years as on the date of application |
| Experience, route 2 | Advocate who previously served in the judicial service, with combined experience of not less than 7 years as judicial officer and advocate |
| Experience, route 3 | Judicial Officer who completed 7 years of continuous practice as an advocate before joining the judicial service |
| Experience, route 4 | Judicial Officer with combined experience of not less than 7 years as an advocate and as a judicial officer |
| Language | Able to speak, read and write Odia fluently, and passed an Odia examination equivalent to Middle English School standard |
Years of practice are counted from the date of provisional enrolment or registration with the State Bar Council. Public Prosecutors can apply if they meet the qualification, experience and age conditions, but they must inform their Head of Office in writing and obtain a No Objection Certificate from the controlling authority.
Age Limit
| Category | Age Condition |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 35 years as on the date of application |
| Maximum age | 45 years as on the date of application |
| All candidates (2026 only) | 1 year extra in upper limit, because vacancies for the previous year could not be notified |
| SC, ST, SEBC (NCL) and Women | 5 years in upper limit |
| PwBD | 10 years in upper limit |
| PwBD belonging to SC/ST/SEBC (NCL) | Cumulative age relaxation |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / SEBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
A candidate who falls under more than one category gets only one relaxation, whichever is most beneficial, except the cumulative benefit for PwBD candidates of SC, ST or SEBC (NCL). Check your exact age as on the date of application.
Disqualifications You Must Check
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Only citizens of India are eligible for appointment |
| Dismissal | Dismissed from service by any High Court, Government, or Statutory or Local Authority |
| Conviction or debarment | Convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude, or permanently debarred by any High Court, UPSC or State PSC |
| Influence and canvassing | Influencing the recruiting authority directly or indirectly, or canvassing in any form, disqualifies you |
| Spouse | A married candidate must not have more than one spouse living, unless the Government grants an exemption |
| Odia | Not able to speak, read and write Odia, or no Odia pass at Middle School standard |
What Is the Selection Process for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Written Examination | Paper-1, Paper-2 and Paper-3 (General English, qualifying) |
| Document Verification | Before the interview, with original certificates |
| Interview | 30 marks |
| Medical Examination | State Medical Board before final appointment |
Each written paper carries 100 marks and lasts 2 hours. Candidates must score at least 45% in Paper-3 (General English). The final merit list is made on marks in Paper-1, Paper-2 and the Interview.
| Paper | Content | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-1 | Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | 30 |
| Paper-1 | Personal Laws | 30 |
| Paper-1 | Transfer of Property, Specific Relief, Limitation, Contract, Odisha land laws, Motor Accident Claims, Arbitration and Conciliation, Commercial Courts | 40 |
| Paper-2 | CrPC 1973 and BNSS 2023 | 30 |
| Paper-2 | IPC 1860 and BNS 2023 | 30 |
| Paper-2 | Evidence Act 1872 and BSA 2023 | 30 |
| Paper-2 | NDPS, Food Safety, Prevention of Corruption, Essential Commodities, Environment, Water Pollution, SC/ST Atrocities, Domestic Violence, POCSO and Juvenile Justice Acts | 10 |
| Paper-3 | Translation Odia to English (ten lines) | 10 |
| Paper-3 | Re-translation English to Odia (ten lines) | 10 |
| Paper-3 | Short essay of about 150 words | 30 |
| Paper-3 | Precis writing of 300 words | 30 |
| Paper-3 | One passage of maximum 500 words with 5 questions | 20 |
Interview Call Ratio and Cut-offs
Candidates are called for interview in the ratio 1:10, provided they have at least 45% in each written paper and 50% in aggregate. For candidates with benchmark disabilities the ratio is also 1:10, with at least 40% in each paper and 45% in aggregate. A candidate is not placed in the merit list unless they score at least 40% in the interview. You can plan your preparation using the exam syllabus and pattern page.
Document Verification Day
Admission to every stage is provisional, and candidature is liable for rejection if you are found ineligible at any stage. At document verification before the interview you must bring original certificates, your Aadhaar card, the same photograph you uploaded, a self-attested copy of the online form and self-attested copies of the certificates you uploaded. Failing this you are debarred from the interview. If you miss any stage of the examination or verification, your candidature is rejected. A list of eligible applicants will be published on the Court’s website or notice board, and the date and time of each stage will be announced on the same website, so check it regularly.
What Is the Salary for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pay Scale | Rs 1,44,840 to Rs 1,94,660 |
| Allowances | Usual D.A. and other allowances as admissible from time to time |
The notification gives a pay scale and does not name a pay level, so treat the Rs 1,44,840 starting figure as the base and expect allowances on top. Selected candidates must also complete a course of training under Rule 30-A and serve a probation period under Rule 33 of the O.S.J.S. and O.J.S. Rules, 2007.
What Is the Application Fee for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved and SEBC | Rs 750 |
| SC, ST and PwBD | Exempted (at their option) |
The fee is non-refundable and non-adjustable. Pay online by Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card or UPI.
What Are the Important Dates for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification date | 4 November 2026 |
| Online application opens | 9 November 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last date to apply | 25 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Examination dates | To be published on the High Court website |
How to Apply Online for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the advertisement and the Instructions to Candidates on the High Court website |
| 2 | Open the official website (link in Essential Links below) and go to Recruitment Corner, then Examination Portal, then the District Judge 2026 link |
| 3 | Fill the form and select your category correctly |
| 4 | Upload clear scanned documents, photograph and full signature on white background |
| 5 | Pay the fee online if you are not exempted |
| 6 | Submit and keep the acknowledgement number |
Keep ready your Aadhaar, Matriculation certificate, Odia pass certificate, Law degree and Annexure-I (practice), Annexure-II (judicial service), or both if you have both. Practice certificates must be issued by the Principal Judicial Officer of a court or by an advocate with at least 10 years standing, endorsed as the notice describes. SEBC candidates need a Non-Creamy Layer certificate not older than three years on the closing date; an OBC certificate is not accepted. Women of SC, ST and SEBC must give a caste certificate by birth, not one issued by marriage.
| Applicant | Also upload |
|---|---|
| Bar practice and judicial service both | Annexure-I and Annexure-II both |
| SC, ST or SEBC (NCL) | Category certificate from the Competent Authority |
| Benchmark disability | Medical or disability certificate from the Competent Medical Board or Authority |
| Public Prosecutor | Appointment letter with date of joining, or with the notification of date of joining |
| Name or surname changed | Odisha Gazette notification of the change |
| Government servant | No Objection Certificate, Standing Order of NOC, or an undertaking |
Your name and date of birth must match your Matriculation certificate. A name mismatch not supported by a newspaper publication and Odisha Gazette notification is rejected without correspondence. If you send more than one application, only the one with the higher Acknowledgement Number counts. Incomplete, incorrect or non-online applications are summarily rejected. Impersonation, fabricated documents or false statements can lead to criminal prosecution and a permanent or time-bound debarment from the examination. Admit cards are downloaded from the website and are not sent by post. No travelling allowance is paid for appearing in the examination.
Orissa High Court District Judge 2026 Essential Links
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Visit Orissa High Court District Judge Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Odisha Government Jobs Telegram Channel
Start your online form as soon as the portal opens on 9 November and do not wait for the final evening of 25 November 2026. For more updates, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in and watch the results page later.