AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE 2026 — 16 Posts, Apply Offline by 01 Oct

High Court of Andhra Pradesh has released AP High Court Civil Judge (Senior Division) LDCE Recruitment 2026 under Notification No. R.O.C. No. 366/2026-RC for 16 posts, through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) — an accelerated promotion route. This recruitment is open ONLY to serving Civil Judges (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service who have completed at least 3 years' service in that cadre by 31 March 2026; it is not open to advocates, fresh law graduates, or candidates outside the AP State Judicial Service. Eligible officers can apply offline by 1 October 2026, 5:00 PM. Selected officers will be promoted to Civil Judge (Senior Division) within the AP State Judicial Service. The selection process is a Computer-Based Screening Test (if required, 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 2 hours, 40% minimum, 1:10 shortlisting ratio), a Written Examination (3 papers of 100 marks each — Civil Laws, Criminal Laws, English Translation & Essay — with minimum 55% in each of Papers I & II and 60% aggregate), a Viva Voce (50 marks, 3 candidates called per vacancy), and Document Verification. Pay scale for AP High Court Civil Judge (Senior Division) 2026 is ₹1,11,000–₹1,63,030 per month, with an examination fee of ₹1,000 for Open/EWS/BC and ₹500 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Candidates for AP High Court Civil Judge LDCE Recruitment 2026 must download Notification R.O.C. No. 366/2026-RC and the application form from aphc.gov.in, fill in personal, educational, service and category details, affix a photograph attested by their Unit Head/Principal District Judge, attach a Demand Draft, service certificate, appointment order, and hall ticket-cum-identity card (original and duplicate), and submit the application through the office of the concerned Principal District Judge, ensuring it reaches by 5:00 PM on 1 October 2026. Candidates must read the complete official notification PDF before applying, since officers facing disciplinary charges, undergoing punishment, or with integrity found doubtful in any year are disqualified.

Must be a serving Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the AP State Judicial Service, with minimum 3 years' service in that cadre by 31 March 2026. NOT open to advocates, fresh law graduates, or candidates outside the AP State Judicial Service.

Not applicable — eligibility based on 3 years' service in cadre by 31 March 2026, not age

Civil Judge, Senior Division, via LDCE (16 posts) — Must be a serving Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service, with not less than 3 years' service in that cadre by 31 March 2026, and possessing the educational/service qualifications prescribed under the AP State Judicial Service rules Vacancy Breakup — Open Competition: 12; SC Group-I: 1; SC Group-II: 1; SC Group-III: 1; Scheduled Tribe: 1 Disqualification — Officers facing disciplinary charges, undergoing punishment for irregularity in duty, or whose integrity has been found doubtful in any year, are not eligible Job Type — Accelerated promotion within the AP State Judicial Service; not open direct recruitment Selection Process — Computer-Based Screening Test (if required) → Written Examination (Civil Laws, Criminal Laws, English) → Viva Voce → Document Verification Written Exam Qualifying Marks — Minimum 55% in Paper-I (Civil Laws) and Paper-II (Criminal Laws) separately, 60% aggregate in the written examination, and 40% separately in each part of Paper-III (English); Paper-III marks and screening test marks are not counted for final selection Final Merit — Based on Paper-I, Paper-II and Viva Voce marks only; minimum 60% aggregate in written examination plus viva voce required; ties broken by age (older preferred), then higher educational qualification, then higher marks in that qualification No TA/DA paid for any stage of the examination

₹1,11,000 – ₹1,63,030 per month

1. Confirm you are a serving Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the AP State Judicial Service with at least 3 years' service by 31 March 2026.
2. Visit the AP High Court official website, aphc.gov.in, and download Notification R.O.C. No. 366/2026-RC and the prescribed application form.
3. Fill in all personal, educational, service and category details.
4. Affix a recent passport-size photograph attested by your Unit Head or Principal District Judge.
5. Prepare the applicable Demand Draft in favour of the Registrar (Recruitment), High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu, Amaravati.
6. Attach the service certificate, appointment order, and applicable educational and community certificates.
7. Attach the hall ticket-cum-identity card in original and duplicate.
8. Sign and date the completed application.
9. Submit the application to the office of the concerned Principal District Judge, ensuring it reaches by 5:00 PM on 1 October 2026.