Karnataka High Court LDCE Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 79 District Judge Posts

Note: The exact date, time and venue of the Written Examination and Viva-voce are not specified in the notification. The list of eligible applicants, and the Admission Card/Call Letter, will be announced/uploaded on the High Court of Karnataka website, with intimation sent by SMS and e-mail.

79 District Judge Posts (25% LDCE Category) The notification does not provide a category-wise (SC/ST/OBC) reservation breakup for these 79 posts – selection is stated to be strictly on the basis of merit. The number of posts is expressly subject to alteration depending on the outcome of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1022/1989 (All India Judges' Association & others v. Union of India & others), pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

Applications are invited only from Senior Civil Judges who, as on the date of this notification (28.08.2026), satisfy all of the following conditions: Currently serving as a Senior Civil Judge , having put in not less than 3 years of service as a Senior Civil Judge . Completed a minimum of 7 years of total service in the combined cadre of Civil Judge & Senior Civil Judge. Attained the age of 35 years . Important: This LDCE is open only to eligible serving Senior Civil Judges of the Karnataka Judicial Service – it is not a recruitment for the general public or for candidates outside the judicial service.

The pay scale for the promoted post of District Judge is not specified in the official notification . This is a promotion within the Karnataka Judicial Service; candidates may refer to the applicable Karnataka Judicial Service pay rules for the District Judge cadre.

Selection is through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) , consisting of a Written Examination followed by a Viva-voce , strictly on the basis of merit. The procedure is as laid down under Rule 4-B of the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2025; applicants are advised to read these rules carefully. The list of applicants found eligible for the Written Examination and Viva-voce will be announced on the High Court of Karnataka's official website. Eligible applicants will be intimated through SMS and e-mail, and must download their Admission Card/Call Letter from the High Court website. Applicants must appear for the Written Examination, and for the Viva-voce if called, at their own expense, at the place and time decided and notified by the High Court of Karnataka. Note: The notification does not specify the Written Examination syllabus, pattern,

Passport-size photograph, white background, 5cm x 3.6cm, max. 50KB, JPG format only Signature on white paper in black ballpoint pen, 2.5cm x 7.5cm, max. 25KB, JPG format only Valid personal mobile number and e-mail ID (compulsory, for all official communication) Note: At the time of the Written Examination and Viva-voce, applicants must produce the Admission Card and Call Letter respectively, for verification.

This LDCE is open only to Senior Civil Judges meeting the stated eligibility criteria as on the date of the notification – not to the general public. The number of 79 posts is subject to alteration in accordance with the outcome of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1022/1989 (All India Judges' Association & others v. Union of India & others), pending before the Supreme Court. The maximum number of attempts an eligible Senior Civil Judge may make to appear in this LDCE is 3 (Three). Applicants must compulsorily provide a valid mobile number and e-mail ID; the High Court is not responsible for non-receipt of SMS or e-mail communication, and no letter correspondence will be entertained. Applicants must appear for the Written Examination and Viva-voce (if called) at their own expense, at the place and time notified by the High Court. Applicants should carefully read the Karnataka Judicial Service (R