Karnataka High Court Recruitment Notice Out for 79 District Judge Posts; Applications Close September 15

• Karnataka High Court has announced 79 District Judge vacancies under the 25% LDCE quota.
• Only eligible serving Senior Civil Judges of the Karnataka Judicial Service can apply; the recruitment is not open to the general public.
• Online applications close on September 15, 2026, with selection through a written examination and viva-voce.

The High Court of Karnataka has invited online applications for promotion to 79 District Judge posts through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) 2026. The vacancies fall under the 25% LDCE category and are restricted to eligible serving Senior Civil Judges of the Karnataka Judicial Service.

Applications for Karnataka High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 opened on August 28 and can be submitted online until 11:59 PM on September 15, 2026. Applicants must have completed at least three years as a Senior Civil Judge and seven years of combined service as Civil Judge and Senior Civil Judge, besides having attained 35 years of age.

The 79-vacancy figure is subject to alteration in view of the proceedings referred to in the recruitment notification. Selection will be made on merit through the departmental competitive examination and viva-voce.

Karnataka High Court District Judge LDCE 2026 Notification

The High Court has issued Notification No. GOB(I) 47(1)/2026 for filling District Judge positions through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination route.

Karnataka High Court District Judge Vacancy 2026

A total of 79 District Judge vacancies have been indicated for appointment through the 25% LDCE category.

The number of vacancies is subject to change in connection with the pending proceedings referred to in the notification, including W.P. No. 1022/1989.

No separate category-wise vacancy distribution has been specified in the recruitment details.

Who Can Apply for Karnataka High Court LDCE 2026?

This recruitment is specifically meant for serving judicial officers and is not an open District Judge recruitment for the general public.

As on August 28, 2026, an applicant must:

• Be serving as a Senior Civil Judge in the Karnataka Judicial Service.
• Have completed at least three years of service in the cadre of Senior Civil Judge.
• Have completed at least seven years of combined service as Civil Judge and Senior Civil Judge.
• Have attained at least 35 years of age.
• Meet the other service conditions prescribed for participation in the LDCE.

Candidates who do not belong to the eligible in-service judicial cadre cannot apply under this notification.

Age and Number of Attempts

The minimum prescribed age is 35 years as on August 28, 2026.

A candidate can make a maximum of three attempts at the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, subject to the applicable service rules and eligibility conditions.

Selection Process

Promotion to District Judge through the 25% LDCE route will be based on merit through the prescribed competitive examination process.

The selection stages include:

1. Written Examination
2. Viva-Voce
3. Final selection on merit

Candidates qualifying at the required stage of the written examination will be considered for the viva-voce in accordance with the applicable Karnataka Judicial Service recruitment rules.

Detailed provisions governing the examination should be read with the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) rules and applicable amendments.

Information regarding the examination, admission ticket/call letter and subsequent stages will be communicated through the High Court recruitment portal and other prescribed channels.

Pay Scale

The recruitment details do not specify the exact pay scale applicable to the promoted District Judge posts.

Selected officers will receive the pay and other benefits applicable to the District Judge cadre under the relevant Karnataka Judicial Service pay rules and orders in force.

Application Fee

No application fee has been specified in the recruitment information.

Candidates should check the official notification and online application portal before final submission for any instructions concerning payment or other application requirements.

Important Dates

Karnataka High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 Important Links

How to Apply for Karnataka High Court District Judge LDCE 2026

Eligible Senior Civil Judges must submit their applications through the Karnataka High Court online recruitment system.

1. Visit the official High Court of Karnataka recruitment portal.
2. Open the recruitment link for District Judge under the 25% LDCE category.
3. Read Notification No. GOB(I) 47(1)/2026 and the general instructions before starting the application.
4. Enter the required personal, service, contact and other prescribed information.
5. Provide a valid mobile number and email address for recruitment-related communication.
6. Upload a recent photograph in JPG format measuring approximately 5 cm × 3.6 cm and within the prescribed 50 KB limit.
7. Upload the signature in JPG format measuring approximately 2.5 cm × 7.5 cm and within the prescribed 25 KB limit.
8. Review the service and personal details entered in the application.
9. Submit the online form no later than 11:59 PM on September 15, 2026.
10. Download or retain a copy of the completed application for future reference.

Applications must be submitted through the prescribed online system. Candidates should monitor the High Court website and their registered communication details for examination and viva-voce updates.