The High Court of Andhra Pradesh, by Notification R.O.C.No.579/2026-RC dated 19 September 2026, declared the provisional selection and waitlist for the post of Law Clerk (contract basis) to assist the Hon'ble Judges of the High Court at Amaravati. Five candidates were provisionally selected — one more than the four posts the Court's original notification of 24 July 2026 had advertised, because, as the September notice records, "in the interregnum five (5) vacancies arose." The role carries a consolidated honorarium of Rs 35,000 per month for a one-year term.
Timeline, Verified Against the Court's Own Notifications
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2020 | Gazette Notification No.88 — Guidelines for appointment of Law Clerks on contract, AP High Court | Referenced in Notification 24.07.2026 |
| 24 July 2026 | Original notification, R.O.C.No.579/2026-RC — 4 posts invited, applications due 4 August 2026, 5:00 PM | AP High Court |
| 11 August 2026 | Viva voce schedule announced — 17 to 21 August 2026 | AP High Court recruitments page |
| 20 August 2026 | Viva voce rescheduled — the 21 August round moved to 24 August 2026 | AP High Court recruitments page |
| 19 September 2026 | Provisional selection and waitlist declared — 5 candidates selected, R.O.C.No.579/2026-RC | AP High Court |
What the September Notice Confirms
- Five candidates were provisionally selected as Law Clerks on contract basis for a period of one year, on a consolidated Rs 35,000 per month honorarium — named in Annexure-I of the notification, along with their district.
- The Court explicitly records the reason for the increase from four to five posts: vacancies arose "in the interregnum" between the original notification and the selection, consistent with the July notification's own caveat that "the number of vacancies may increase or decrease depending upon the exigencies."
- The notice is signed by the Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, and is publicly listed on the Court's own recruitments page — not merely emailed to candidates.
Eligibility Framework for This Post
The role is governed by the High Court's own "Guidelines for the appointment of Law Clerks on contract to the Hon'ble Judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati", issued vide Gazette Notification No.88, dated 18 July 2020, and amendments issued from time to time — a standing framework distinct from the Civil Judge recruitment rules covered elsewhere in Veritect's judicial-exam coverage. The July 2026 notification directed eligibility questions to "Guideline No.5" of that framework, and required applications to be sent by registered/speed post to the Registrar (Recruitment) at Amaravati, marked "Application for the post of Law Clerk" — no online portal was used for this cycle.
Why a Four-Post Clerkship Notice Is Worth Tracking
Law clerkships at constitutional courts are a recognised, if narrow, entry route into the profession for recent law graduates, and — as of August 2026 — clerkship experience has taken on new significance nationally. The Supreme Court's judgment in Bhumika Trust v. Union of India, delivered 21 August 2026, restructured entry-level judicial service eligibility to include a mandatory post-selection Law Clerkship component for candidates recruited under its transitional scheme (see Veritect's dedicated update, cross-linked below). That clerkship is legally and administratively distinct from this AP High Court contract-clerkship programme, which is a standing, court-specific intake governed by the 2020 Guidelines rather than the Supreme Court's 2026 framework — but the growing institutional weight given to clerkship experience makes any court's clerk-recruitment cycle more relevant to track than it would have been a year ago.
Sources and Verification
- High Court of Andhra Pradesh — Notification R.O.C.No.579/2026-RC, dated 19.09.2026 (provisional selection and waitlist): https://aphc.gov.in/docs/notification_1789803609_0.pdf (accessed 23 September 2026) — source for the selection count, honorarium, and reference to the original notification.
- High Court of Andhra Pradesh — Notification R.O.C.No.579/2026-RC, dated 24.07.2026 (original call for applications): https://aphc.gov.in/docs/notification_1784883877_0.pdf (accessed 23 September 2026) — source for the original four-post figure, honorarium, application deadline and Gazette Notification No.88 reference.
- High Court of Andhra Pradesh — Recruitments page: https://aphc.gov.in/recruitments.php (accessed 23 September 2026) — source for the viva voce scheduling and rescheduling notices.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Law Clerk at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, and how is the post filled? A one-year, contract-basis position assisting a Hon'ble Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati, carrying a consolidated honorarium of Rs 35,000 per month. Eligibility and the selection process run under the High Court's own "Guidelines for the appointment of Law Clerks on contract to the Hon'ble Judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati", issued vide Gazette Notification No.88 dated 18 July 2020, and amendments issued from time to time — not under the Civil Judge or District Judge recruitment rules.
How many candidates were selected in the September 2026 notice, and how does that compare to the original notification? Five candidates were provisionally selected. The original notification, R.O.C.No.579/2026-RC dated 24 July 2026, had invited applications for four posts, while noting vacancies could increase or decrease depending on exigencies. The 19 September 2026 notification records that five vacancies arose in the interim, and the provisional list reflects that revised number.
What was the timeline from notification to selection? The original notification issued 24 July 2026 with applications due by 4 August 2026. A viva voce was first scheduled for 17-21 August 2026, then rescheduled once — the round due on 21 August was moved to 24 August 2026, per a separate High Court notice. The provisional selection and waitlist followed on 19 September 2026.
Is this Law Clerk role relevant to the Supreme Court's new clerkship framework for judicial service entry? Not directly — this AP High Court contract clerkship predates and is legally distinct from the structured post-selection Law Clerkship the Supreme Court introduced in its August 2026 review of judicial service eligibility (Bhumika Trust v. Union of India). That clerkship is a mandatory component for candidates who clear the Civil Judge (Junior Division) examination under the transitional scheme; this AP High Court post is a separate, standing contract-clerkship programme open to eligible law graduates applying directly to the Court. See Veritect's dedicated update on the Supreme Court judgment, cross-linked below, for how the two differ.
For the Supreme Court's new judicial-service clerkship framework, see Three-Year Practice Rule: Civil Judge Eligibility Guide. For the same High Court's Civil Judge (Senior Division) LDCE running in parallel, see AP High Court Civil Judge (Senior Division) LDCE 2026.