Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 79 District Judge (LDCE) Posts
Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026: High Court of Karnataka has invited online applications for 79 District Judge posts under the 25% Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) quota. This recruitment is conducted for promotion to the District Judge cadre and is not open to the general public. Only eligible serving Senior Civil Judges of the Karnataka Judicial Service can apply under the notified conditions. The notification was issued on 28 August 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official Karnataka High Court website up to 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM.
Important: Candidates should not confuse this notification with a regular District Judge recruitment open to advocates or fresh applicants. The 2026 notification is an internal promotional LDCE for eligible serving Senior Civil Judges.
Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru |
| Recruitment | Karnataka High Court LDCE Recruitment 2026 |
| Notification No. | GOB(I) 47(1)/2026 |
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Post Name | District Judge |
| Recruitment Category | 25% Limited Departmental Competitive Examination |
| Total Vacancies | 79 |
| Eligible Candidates | Serving Senior Civil Judges of Karnataka Judicial Service |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Selection Process | Written Examination + Viva-voce |
| Job Location | Karnataka |
| Last Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Official Website | judiciary.karnataka.gov.in |
The High Court notification provides for 79 District Judge vacancies under the 25% LDCE category. The number of vacancies is subject to alteration depending on the outcome of the pending Supreme Court proceedings referred to in the notification.
Karnataka High Court District Judge Vacancy 2026
Under this recruitment, the vacancies are for the following post:
| Post Name | Vacancy | Category |
|---|---|---|
| District Judge | 79 | 25% LDCE |
The notification does not present this as a conventional category-wise public recruitment. Selection is to be made through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination on merit.
Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026 – Eligibility
Candidates must carefully check the eligibility requirements before submitting the application. This opportunity is specifically intended for serving Senior Civil Judges in the Karnataka Judicial Service.
As reported from the 28 August 2026 notification, candidates must satisfy the following conditions as on the notification date:
- The candidate must be currently serving as a Senior Civil Judge.
- The candidate must have completed not less than 3 years of service as a Senior Civil Judge.
- The candidate must have completed a minimum of 7 years of combined service in the Civil Judge and Senior Civil Judge cadres.
- The candidate must have attained 35 years of age.
- The candidate must satisfy the other conditions prescribed under the applicable Karnataka Judicial Service rules.
Therefore, fresh graduates, advocates from outside the judicial service and members of the general public are not eligible for this particular LDCE recruitment.
Age Limit for Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026
The minimum age requirement is 35 years, calculated as on 28 August 2026, the date of the notification.
| Particular | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 35 years |
| Age reckoning date | 28 August 2026 |
| Maximum Attempts | 3 |
Eligible candidates can appear for the LDCE a maximum of three attempts, subject to the applicable rules.
Application Fee for Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026
The available recruitment information does not specify an application fee for this departmental LDCE. Candidates should carefully check the official notification and application instructions before final submission rather than assuming that a fee is payable or not payable.
Salary / Pay Scale for Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026
The 2026 notification does not specify a separate pay scale in the recruitment notice. Since this is a promotion within the Karnataka Judicial Service, the applicable pay and service conditions for the District Judge cadre will be governed by the relevant Karnataka Judicial Service rules and applicable orders.
Candidates should refer to the official rules and notification for the authoritative information regarding pay, allowances and service conditions.
Karnataka High Court District Judge Selection Process
The selection process consists of a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE).
The major stages are:
- Written Examination
- Viva-voce
- Final merit-based selection
The selection is conducted on merit in accordance with the applicable Karnataka Judicial Service rules. The exact examination schedule, venue and other subsequent instructions will be communicated by the High Court.
Eligible candidates should regularly check the official High Court website and their registered mobile number and email ID for further communication.
Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 15 September 2026 |
| Last Time for Application | 11:59 PM |
| Written Examination | To be announced |
| Viva-voce | To be announced |
The application window remains open until 15 September 2026 at 11:59 PM. Candidates should avoid waiting until the final hours to submit their applications.
Documents Required for Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026
Eligible applicants should keep the required information and documents ready before completing the online application. The application instructions include requirements relating to photograph and signature.
The reported specifications include:
- Recent passport-size photograph with white background.
- Photograph in JPG format, with the prescribed size and file limit.
- Signature on white paper using black ballpoint pen.
- Signature in JPG format with the prescribed dimensions and file limit.
- Valid mobile number.
- Valid email ID.
Candidates should follow the exact specifications displayed in the official online application portal because incorrect or unclear uploads may result in application-related problems.
How to Apply for Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026
Eligible Senior Civil Judges can apply through the official Karnataka High Court online recruitment portal.
Step-by-step application process
- Visit the official website of the High Court of Karnataka.
- Open the Recruitment section.
- Locate the notification for District Judge – 25% Limited Departmental Competitive Examination.
- Read the official notification and general instructions carefully.
- Confirm that you satisfy all eligibility conditions.
- Open the online application link.
- Enter the required details accurately.
- Provide your valid mobile number and email ID.
- Upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Verify all information before submitting the application.
- Submit the application before 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM.
- Save or print the submitted application details for future reference.
Candidates should ensure that all information entered in the application is accurate. The High Court has also advised applicants to pay attention to communication through the registered mobile number and email ID.
Important Points for Candidates
There are several important points that applicants should understand before applying.
First, this is not a public recruitment. The 79 posts are being filled through the 25% LDCE route and the opportunity is restricted to eligible serving Senior Civil Judges.
Second, eligibility is assessed with reference to 28 August 2026. Candidates must have completed the required service and attained the prescribed age by the relevant date.
Third, the number of vacancies may change. The notification states that the 79-post figure is subject to alteration depending on the outcome of the pending Supreme Court proceedings mentioned in the notification.
Fourth, candidates should check the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 along with the recruitment notification to understand the applicable LDCE procedure.
Fifth, candidates should not rely only on third-party job websites. The High Court’s official website and official notification should be treated as the final authority for eligibility, examination arrangements, application instructions and subsequent updates.
Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026 – Contact Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | High Court of Karnataka |
| Location | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Official Website | judiciary.karnataka.gov.in |
| Recruitment Notification | GOB(I) 47(1)/2026 |
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Post | District Judge |
| Vacancies | 79 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date | 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM |
For recruitment-related communication, candidates should use the official contact and communication channels provided by the High Court rather than relying on unofficial phone numbers or email addresses. The recruitment information indicates that applicants must provide a valid mobile number and email ID for communication.
Karnataka High Court Recruitment 2026 – Important Links
- Official Notification: Refer to the District Judge LDCE notification issued by the High Court of Karnataka.
- Apply Online: Karnataka High Court Official Recruitment Website
- Official Website: High Court of Karnataka
