The High Court of Andhra Pradesh, by Notification R.O.C.No.366/2026-RC dated 17 September 2026, invited applications for 16 posts of Civil Judge (Senior Division) by Accelerated Promotion through a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination — open only to serving Civil Judges (Junior Division) with at least three years' service in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service by 31 March 2026. Applications, routed through the concerned Principal District Judge, must reach the Registrar (Recruitment) by 5:00 PM on 1 October 2026. This is a departmental promotion exercise, not a direct-recruitment window — advocates, fresh law graduates and judicial officers from other states' cadres are not eligible.
What the Notification Covers
| Element | Position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Notification number and date | R.O.C.No.366/2026-RC, dated 17 September 2026 | High Court of Andhra Pradesh |
| Route | Accelerated Promotion via Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) | Notification, para 1 |
| Eligible pool | Civil Judges (Junior Division), AP State Judicial Service, minimum 3 years' service by 31 March 2026 | Notification §I(i) |
| Vacancies | 16 — 12 OC, 1 SC Group-I, 1 SC Group-II, 1 SC Group-III, 1 ST | Notification, vacancy table |
| Application route | Offline, through the concerned Principal District Judge | Notification §X |
| Last date | 5:00 PM, 1 October 2026 | Notification §X |
| Application fee | Rs. 1,000 (OC/EWS/BC); Rs. 500 (SC/ST/PwBD), by Demand Draft | Notification §IX |
| Pay scale on promotion | Rs. 1,11,000 – Rs. 1,63,030 | Notification, preamble |
| Governing rules | Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026 | Notification §I |
Eligibility and Disqualification
A candidate must have put in not less than three years of service as Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service by the end of 31 March 2026. Two disqualification clauses apply: an officer facing disciplinary charges, or undergoing punishment for an irregularity in discharge of duties, is not eligible; nor is an officer whose integrity has been found doubtful in any year. Reservation under the LDCE follows the vertical reservation scheme for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes prescribed in the AP State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026, read with the amended Rule 22 and 22-A of the AP State and Subordinate Service Rules.
Examination Scheme
- Screening test (conditional) — a Computer Based Test of 100 multiple-choice questions over two hours, run only if the volume of applications requires shortlisting; candidates scoring 40% or more are called for the written examination in the ratio of 1:10 of available vacancies. Screening marks are not carried forward.
- Written examination — three papers of 100 marks each, three hours per paper, answered in English (except the translation component):
- Paper I — Civil Laws
- Paper II — Criminal Laws
- Paper III — English (Translation and Essay Writing), split into Part I (40 marks, English↔Telugu translation) and Part II (60 marks, essay writing on a legal subject). A candidate must clear 40% in each part of Paper III, but Paper III marks are not counted toward the merit ranking for viva voce or final selection — only Papers I, II and the viva voce are.
- Minimum marks for viva voce eligibility — not less than 55% in each of Paper I and Paper II, and not less than 60% aggregate in the written examination.
- Viva voce — 50 marks. Candidates are called in the ratio of 1:3 of available vacancies based on written-exam performance.
- Final selection — requires at least 60% aggregate of the written examination and viva voce combined. Ties are resolved first by age (elder preferred), then by higher educational qualification, then by marks in that qualification.
Documents Required
Candidates must enclose an attested certificate of date of birth, law degree and other academic certificates; a community certificate (for SC/ST claimants, specifying the group); a service certificate in the cadre of Civil Judge (Junior Division) issued by the competent authority; and must produce all original certificates on the day of viva voce, failing which the candidature is rejected without further correspondence.
Why This Matters Beyond Andhra Pradesh
This LDCE is a state-specific promotion exercise and does not affect the eligibility conditions for direct recruitment to Civil Judge (Junior Division) — which the Supreme Court modified in August 2026 in a separate review judgment (see Veritect's dedicated update, cross-linked below). Readers preparing for direct-entry judicial service exams in any state should not confuse this LDCE, or similar promotion-route LDCEs run periodically by other High Courts, with the fresh-graduate entry point.
Sources and Verification
- High Court of Andhra Pradesh — Notification R.O.C.No.366/2026-RC, dated 17.09.2026: https://aphc.gov.in/docs/notification_1789636027_0.pdf (accessed 23 September 2026) — source for all vacancy, eligibility, examination-scheme, fee and deadline details in this article.
- High Court of Andhra Pradesh — Recruitments page: https://aphc.gov.in/recruitments.php (accessed 23 September 2026) — source for confirming this is the current, live notification on the Court's own recruitment listing.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the AP High Court LDCE 2026 for Civil Judge (Senior Division)? Only serving Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service who had completed not less than three years of service in that cadre by 31 March 2026. The notification, R.O.C.No.366/2026-RC dated 17 September 2026, is a departmental promotion route — it is not open to practising advocates, fresh law graduates, or judicial officers from any other state's cadre.
How many vacancies does this LDCE cover, and how are they split by category? Sixteen posts in total: 12 Open Category, one each in SC Group-I, SC Group-II and SC Group-III, and one Scheduled Tribe post, per the notification's vacancy table. The High Court reserves the right to increase, decrease or cancel any vacancy at any stage without assigning a reason.
What is the last date to apply, and how is the application submitted? 5:00 PM on 1 October 2026. The application, together with the hall ticket-cum-identity card (original and duplicate), service certificate in the cadre of Civil Judge (Junior Division), appointment order, and applicable community certificate, must be submitted through the office of the concerned Principal District Judge — not directly to the High Court. Applications received after the deadline are summarily rejected.
What is the exam pattern for this LDCE? A Computer Based Screening Test of 100 objective questions (conducted only if the number of applications warrants it, to shortlist 1:10 against vacancies), followed by a written examination of three papers of 100 marks each: Paper I Civil Laws, Paper II Criminal Laws, and Paper III English (Translation and Essay Writing, split 40/60 between translation and a legal-subject essay). Candidates need 55% each in Papers I and II, and 60% aggregate in the written examination plus the 50-mark viva voce, to be provisionally selected.
What is the pay scale for Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Andhra Pradesh? Rs. 1,11,000 to Rs. 1,63,030 per month, as stated in the notification. This is a promotion from the Civil Judge (Junior Division) cadre, governed by the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026.
For the framework governing entry-level (direct recruitment) eligibility nationwide, see Three-Year Practice Rule: Civil Judge Eligibility Guide. For how District Judge entry differs from this Senior Division promotion route, see District Judge Entry-Level Direct Recruitment Guide.