📋 Complete Advertisement & Guidelines
AP High Court Civil Judge (Senior Division) Recruitment 2026 – Apply Offline for 16 Posts
A golden opportunity for serving judicial officers! The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has announced the Accelerated Promotion through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2026 for promotion to the post of Civil Judge (Senior Division). This official notification (R.O.C. No. 366/2026-RC) is for candidates already serving in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.
Quick Summary: AP High Court LDCE 2026
| Organization | High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati |
| Post Name | Civil Judge (Senior Division) |
| Total Vacancies | 16 |
| Last Date to Apply | 1 October 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Official Website | aphc.gov.in |
AP High Court Civil Judge Vacancy 2026
There are a total of 16 vacancies for the post of Civil Judge (Senior Division) under this LDCE. The detailed vacancy breakdown by category is as follows:
| Category | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Open Competition | 12 |
| SC Group-I | 1 |
| SC Group-II | 1 |
| SC Group-III | 1 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 1 |
| Total | 16 |
Note: The High Court reserves the right to increase, decrease, or cancel any vacancy at any stage.
Eligibility Criteria for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026
This is NOT a direct recruitment for advocates or fresh law graduates. It is an accelerated promotion examination exclusively for:
- Officers currently serving as Civil Judge (Junior Division) under the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.
- Candidates must have completed at least three years of service in that cadre by 31 March 2026.
- Must possess all necessary educational and service qualifications as per AP State Judicial Service rules.
Disqualification Conditions
The following officers are ineligible:
- Officers facing disciplinary charges.
- Officers undergoing punishment for any irregularity in duties.
- Officers whose integrity has been found doubtful in any year.
AP High Court Civil Judge Salary 2026
Selected candidates will be promoted to Civil Judge (Senior Division) with a competitive pay scale under the 7th CPC:
| Post Name | Pay Scale (INR) |
|---|---|
| Civil Judge (Senior Division) | Rs. 1,11,000 to Rs. 1,63,030 |
This promotion offers significant career growth, enhanced job security, and the prestige of a higher judicial position within the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.
How to Apply for AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026
The application process is offline. Follow these steps carefully:
- Download the official notification (R.O.C. No. 366/2026-RC) and prescribed application form from the AP High Court website: aphc.gov.in.
- Fill in all personal, educational, and service details accurately.
- Affix a recent passport-size photograph attested by the concerned Unit Head or Principal District Judge.
- Prepare a Demand Draft for the application fee (Rs. 1,000 for Open/EWS/BC; Rs. 500 for SC/ST/PwBD) payable to "Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati".
- Attach all required documents: attested copies of birth certificate, law degree, community certificate, service certificate, appointment order, DD, and hall ticket-cum-identity card (original & duplicate).
- Sign and date the application.
- Submit the completed application to the Office of the concerned Principal District Judge so it reaches by 5:00 PM on 1 October 2026.
Application Submission Address: Office of the concerned Principal District Judge, Andhra Pradesh. Applications must be routed through the appropriate official channel.
AP High Court Civil Judge Selection Process 2026
The selection involves multiple stages:
- Computer-based Screening Test (if required): 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours. Minimum 40% to qualify. Shortlisting ratio 1:10. Marks not added to final score.
- Written Examination: Three papers (Paper-I: Civil Laws, Paper-II: Criminal Laws, Paper-III: English) totaling 300 marks over 9 hours. Minimum qualifying marks: 55% in Paper-I & II, 60% aggregate, and 40% in each part of Paper-III.
- Viva Voce: 50 marks. Candidates called at 3:1 ratio to vacancies. Final minimum aggregate: 60% in written exam + viva voce.
Final Merit List: Based on Paper-I, Paper-II, and Viva Voce marks. Paper-III and screening test marks are excluded. Tie-breaker: age, then higher educational qualification, then higher marks in qualification.
AP High Court Civil Judge Syllabus 2026
Civil Laws (Paper-I)
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Indian Succession Act, 1925
- Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 & Hindu Succession Act, 1956
- Specific Relief Act, 1963
- Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
- Indian Contract Act, 1872; Indian Easements Act, 1882; Limitation Act, 1963
- Transfer of Property Act, 1882; Registration Act, 1908; Indian Stamp Act, 1899
- Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965; Civil Rules of Practice; AP Civil Courts Act, 1972; AP Land Encroachment Act, 1905
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872; Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Criminal Laws (Paper-II)
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Criminal Rules of Practice
- Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978
- Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Sections 138 to 148
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
English (Paper-III)
- Part I (40 marks): Translation from English to Telugu and Telugu to English.
- Part II (60 marks): Essay writing on legal subjects.
AP High Court Civil Judge Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 17 September 2026 |
| Service Eligibility Cut-off Date | 31 March 2026 |
| Last Date for Receipt of Application | 1 October 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Screening Test Date | To be announced |
| Written Examination Date | To be announced |
| Viva Voce Date | To be announced |
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026
1. Who is eligible to apply for the AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026?
Only officers currently serving as Civil Judge (Junior Division) under the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service who have completed at least three years of service in that cadre by 31 March 2026 are eligible. This is an accelerated promotion exam, not a direct recruitment for external candidates.
2. What is the application fee for AP High Court LDCE 2026?
The application and examination fee is Rs. 1,000 for Open Category, EWS, and BC candidates. For SC, ST, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), the fee is Rs. 500. Payment must be made via Demand Draft.
3. What is the salary for the post of Civil Judge (Senior Division) in AP High Court?
The pay scale for Civil Judge (Senior Division) is Rs. 1,11,000 to Rs. 1,63,030 per month under the 7th Central Pay Commission.
4. How is the final merit list prepared for AP High Court Civil Judge 2026?
The final merit list is based on marks obtained in Paper-I (Civil Laws), Paper-II (Criminal Laws), and the Viva Voce. Paper-III (English) and screening test marks are not considered for final ranking.
5. What documents are required to apply for the AP High Court LDCE 2026?
Attested copies of: Birth/SSC certificate, law degree, other educational certificates, community certificate (for SC/ST), service certificate, appointment order, Demand Draft, and hall ticket-cum-identity card (original & duplicate). Originals must be produced at viva voce.
6. Can advocates or fresh law graduates apply for this recruitment?
No. This recruitment is strictly for serving Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service seeking accelerated promotion. It is not open to advocates, fresh graduates, or candidates outside the service.
7. What is the last date to submit the application for AP High Court Civil Judge 2026?
The completed application must reach the office of the concerned Principal District Judge by 5:00 PM on 1 October 2026. Applications received after this deadline will be rejected.
8. Is there any negative marking in the screening test or written exam?
The notification does not mention negative marking for either the computer-based screening test or the written examination. Candidates should refer to the official notification for any updates.