AP High Court District Judge (Entry Level) Recruitment 2026: 10 Posts, Apply Offline by 15 Oct

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh is recruiting 10 District Judge (Entry Level) posts in the A.P. State Judicial Service by direct recruitment (25% quota) for 2026. The notification is No. 364/2026, dated 30 September 2026. Applications are offline: the form, a demand draft and attested documents must reach the Registrar (Recruitment) by 5:00 PM on 15 October 2026. As of 7 October 2026, that deadline has not yet passed.

This is a judicial-service appointment with a fixed pay scale, not an apprenticeship or training placement. The notice does not use the word permanent and does not give tenure or probation terms, so confirm service conditions in the full notification and the A.P. State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026.

AP High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 at a glance

Vacancies by category

Selection against the BC-E post is subject to the outcome of Civil Appeal Nos. 2628-2637/2010 pending before the Supreme Court. The High Court may also increase or decrease vacancies, or cancel the notification, at any stage.

Eligibility

Experience requirement

This is not a fresher recruitment. The notice requires one of the following, measured as on 30 September 2026:

• at least 7 years of practice as an Advocate; or
• combined standing of 7 years or more as an Advocate and Judicial Officer; or
• combined standing of 7 years or more as an Advocate and as Assistant Public Prosecutor, Additional Public Prosecutor or Public Prosecutor.

The documents list also asks for a law degree and Bar Council enrolment proof. The candidate must have good character and no infirmity that makes them unfit for the post.

Age limit

The candidate must have completed 35 years and not completed 45 years as on 1 September 2026. The upper limit is relaxable by three years for candidates claiming SC, ST, Backward Classes or EWS reservation.

Disqualifications to check

• not being a citizen of India;
• dismissal, removal or compulsory retirement from judicial or government service;
• conviction for an offence involving moral turpitude;
• permanent debarment by the High Court, UPSC or a State PSC;
• pending disciplinary charges or undergoing punishment;
• being a full-time salaried Law Officer of the Central or State Government or a statutory body.

The notice lists further grounds in Section I(ii), so read it in full before applying.

How to apply offline

1. Get the prescribed application proforma from aphc.gov.in and fill it in completely. The notice says case particulars will be verified with the courts and Bar Associations.
2. Attach a recent passport-size photograph attested as the form directs, and sign the application.
3. Prepare a crossed demand draft in favour of Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati, payable at Nelapadu. Enter its details in the form.
4. Attach testimonials and certificates attested by a Gazetted Officer.
5. Super-scribe the cover: Application for appointment to the post of District Judge (Entry Level) in the A.P. State Judicial Service under Direct Recruitment.
6. Address it to the Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, Nelapadu, Guntur District, PIN 522 239, Andhra Pradesh, so that it reaches by 5:00 PM on 15 October 2026.

The High Court says it is not responsible for postal or courier delays. Incomplete applications, applications without supporting certificates and late applications will be summarily rejected.

Application fee

The fee is not refundable, and failure to pay it leads to rejection.

Documents to enclose

• Attested date-of-birth proof (SSC or equivalent) and law degree.
• Attested Bar Council enrolment certificate and the original practice certificate from the Bar Association.
• Service certificate for Civil Judge or Public Prosecutor cadres, where applicable.
• Original statements of cases handled independently and with a senior, and of depositions, written arguments, orders or judgments showing the candidate's name.
• Two testimonials from two respectable persons.
• Category certificates if claiming reservation.

All originals must be produced on the day of the viva voce. A missing certificate leads to rejection.

Reservation certificates

• SC/ST/BC/EWS: attested community certificate showing the specific group.
• Backward Classes: Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued in 2025 or 2026. Without it, the candidature is treated as Open Competition. OBC certificates are not considered.
• EWS: Tahsildar's certificate issued in 2025 or 2026 showing gross annual family income below Rs. 8,00,000. Without it, the candidature is treated as Open Competition.
• PwBD: attested Medical Board certificate stating the nature and percentage of disability.

Selection process and exam pattern

Screening test (if held)

The High Court may hold a computer-based screening test of 100 multiple-choice questions (100 marks, 2 hours). Candidates scoring 40% or more are shortlisted at 1:10 of the vacancies for the written examination, and ties at the cut-off are all called. Screening marks are not added to written marks and do not count towards the final merit order. The notice says holding this test depends on the number of applications received.

Written examination

Answers must be in English, except for translation. Paper III Part I (40 marks) is translation from English to Telugu and Telugu to English. Part II (60 marks) is an essay on legal subjects. Candidates need 40% in each part, but Paper III marks are not counted for viva eligibility or selection. Only Paper I, Paper II and viva voce marks count.

Minimum marks for the viva voce

Viva voce and final selection

The viva voce carries 50 marks. Successful written candidates are called at 1:3 of the vacancies, with tied candidates all called, and absence disqualifies. The minimum combined written and viva aggregate is 60% for OC/EWS, 55% for BC and 50% for SC/ST/PwBD. Ties are broken by age (elder first), then higher educational qualification, then marks in the prescribed qualification. Selection is provisional and subject to verification of antecedents.

Syllabus for the written examination

Constitution and Civil Laws

The notice lists the Code of Civil Procedure, the Indian Evidence Act and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, the Constitution of India, Administrative Law, the Transfer of Property Act, the Indian Contract Act, the Specific Relief Act, the Limitation Act, the Law of Torts and the Motor Vehicle Act. It also lists the 2013 land acquisition compensation Act, tenancy and land-reform laws, family and personal laws (inheritance, marriage, adoption, guardianship), the Family Courts Act, the Easements, Trusts and Sale of Goods Acts, the Registration and Stamp Acts, and the Patents, Copyright and Trade Marks Acts.

Criminal Laws

The listed laws include the BNS, BNSS and BSA alongside the CrPC, IPC and Evidence Act. They also include the Protection of Civil Rights Act, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Sections 138 to 148 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the NDPS Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act. State laws listed are the A.P. Excise, Prohibition and Forest Acts. The list ends with the Wild Life Protection Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, the Electricity Act, the Domestic Violence Act and the Arms Act.

Evidence gaps to confirm

• The notice gives no dates for the screening test, written examination or viva voce. Hall tickets will carry venue and time, and candidates are told to keep checking the High Court website.
• No online application link is given. The website is named only as the source of the proforma and updates.
• The notice does not state a place of posting for selected candidates.
• Tenure, probation and other service conditions are not set out in the notice and fall under the 2026 service rules.

FAQ

Is there an online application for this recruitment?

The notice describes only an offline process: the application and demand draft go to the Registrar (Recruitment) at Nelapadu, Amaravati. The High Court website is where the proforma and later updates appear.

Can a fresh law graduate apply?

No. The notice requires at least 7 years of standing as an Advocate, or the combined experience described above, as on 30 September 2026.