AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 119 Posts

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati has released Notification No. 118/2026-RC dated 25-09-2026 inviting online applications for 119 posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service. Of these, 96 vacancies are under Direct Recruitment and 23 vacancies are under Recruitment by Transfer. The recruitment is governed by the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service & Cadre) Rules, 2026.

The pay scale for Civil Judge (Junior Division) is Rs. 77,840 - 1,36,520. Law graduates can apply under Direct Recruitment, and eligible court and legal department staff can apply under Recruitment by Transfer. Selected candidates will first be designated as Trainee Judicial Officers and undergo one year of training at the Judicial Academy, followed by one year of Law Clerkship.

Applications are accepted online only through the High Court website, https://aphc.gov.in, from 01-10-2026 to 26-10-2026 (up to 11:59 PM). Selection is through a Screening Test (computer based), a Written Examination and a Viva Voce. Read this article for the complete details on vacancy, eligibility, salary, age limit, application fee, important dates, selection process and how to apply for AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026.

• AP High Court Civil Judge Notification PDF
• Direct Link to Apply

AP High Court Civil Judge (Junior Division) Recruitment 2026 Overview

The High Court reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of vacancies or cancel the notification at any stage without assigning any reason. No right accrues to a candidate by virtue of the notification.

AP High Court Civil Judge (Junior Division) Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details 

A total of 119 posts are notified, comprising 96 posts under Direct Recruitment and 23 posts under Recruitment by Transfer.

Direct Recruitment (96 Posts)

Recruitment by Transfer (23 Posts)

Selection against the BC-E vacancies will be subject to the outcome of Civil Appeal Nos. 2628-2637/2010 pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Vertical reservations (Backward Classes A to E, EWS, SC and ST) and horizontal reservations (women and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) are as per the AP State Judicial (Service & Cadre) Rules, 2026, read with Rules 22 and 22-A of the AP State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996 (G.O.Ms.No.77 dated 02-08-2023).

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility conditions differ for Direct Recruitment and Recruitment by Transfer.

Direct Recruitment

• All Law graduates who obtained their Law Degree within the preceding one year as on the date of notification are eligible to appear for the Civil Judge (Junior Division) notification for 2026. This is as per the judgment in Bhumika Trust Vs. Union of India and others (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1110/2025, dated 21-08-2026) of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, and pending amendments to the AP State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026.
• The candidate must have good character and be free from any infirmity that renders him/her unfit for such appointment.
• Direct Recruitment means appointment of a person who is not in the service of the Government of India/State.

Recruitment by Transfer

• Applicants must possess a Degree in Law awarded by any University established by law in India.
• Applicants must be a confirmed member or approved probationer in one of the eligible categories listed below.
• High Court of Andhra Pradesh: Section Officers, Court Officers, Scrutiny Officers, Accounts Officers, Court Masters, Personal Secretaries to Hon'ble Judges, Personal Secretaries to Registrars, Deputy Section Officers and Translators, Senior System Officers, Overseer, Assistant Section Officers, Computer Operators, Assistant Librarians, U.D. Stenographers, System Officers, Assistants, Examiners, Assistant Overseer, Typists and Copyists.
• District Judiciary in Andhra Pradesh: Chief Administrative Officers, Senior Superintendents, Superintendents, Stenographers Grade-I, II and III, Senior Assistants, Junior Assistants and Typists.
• Prosecution Services of Andhra Pradesh: Assistant Public Prosecutors, Senior Assistant Public Prosecutors and Additional Public Prosecutors Grade-II.
• Section Officers in the Law Department of the Secretariat and in the Legislature Department of the State of Andhra Pradesh.
• Managers of the Offices of the Advocate General, Government Pleaders and Public Prosecutors, and the Editor, I.L.R., of the State of Andhra Pradesh.
• No person who is facing disciplinary charges, or has undergone any punishment or is under subsisting punishment for any irregularity in discharge of duties, shall be eligible under Recruitment by Transfer.

Disqualifications (Direct Recruitment)

• A person who is not a citizen of India, or who is dismissed, removed or compulsorily retired from Judicial Service or any service of the Government, Statutory or Local Authority.
• A person convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude, or arrested in connection with any such crime.
• A person permanently debarred or disqualified by the High Court, UPSC or any State Public Service Commission from examinations or selections.
• A person who directly or indirectly influences the recruitment authority for his/her candidature.
• A person having more than one wife living, or a woman who marries knowingly a person having a wife.
• A candidate who has committed copying or misconduct in a Screening Test/Written Examination, or could not successfully complete the probation period of any post in Judicial Service or other service.
• An officer found to be of doubtful integrity in any year.

Salary/Stipend

The pay and stipend details given in the notification are as follows:

• Pay Scale: Rs. 77,840 - 1,36,520 for Civil Judge (Junior Division).
• Training Period (1 year at the Judicial Academy): Selected candidates are designated as "Trainee Judicial Officers" and are paid a fixed emolument equivalent to one-half of the remuneration payable to a Civil Judge (Junior Division), along with the facilities and benefits ordinarily available to trainees in the Academy.
• Law Clerkship (1 year): After the training, Trainee Judicial Officers undergo one year of structured Law Clerkship, with the same emoluments as during their training and no further allowance. The first six months are under the supervision of the Principal District/District and Sessions Judges or Members of the Higher Judicial Services, and the remaining six months under an Hon'ble Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
• Regular Appointment: On completion of the Law Clerkship, the Hon'ble Judge places a reasoned evaluation report. If found satisfactory, the Trainee Judicial Officer is appointed to the regular post and is entitled to the regular pay scale and other service benefits.

Age Limit (as on 01-09-2026)

Age is calculated as on 01-09-2026, the first day of the month in which the notification was published.

Direct Recruitment

• Maximum Age: Applicants should not have completed 35 years of age.
• SC/ST, Backward Classes and EWS: Relaxation of 5 years.
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities: Relaxation of 10 years.
• Defence Services: For an otherwise qualified applicant who served in the Defence services of the Indian Union, the period of service rendered is excluded in computing the age.

Recruitment by Transfer

• Maximum Age: Applicants should not have completed 48 years of age.

The minimum age is not specified in the notification.

Application Fee

• Open Category/EWS/BC Candidates: Rs. 1,500/- towards online application processing fee and examination fee.
• SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disabilities: Rs. 750/-. Only applicants belonging to a community recognized as SC/ST in the State of Andhra Pradesh are entitled to this concession.
• Payment Mode: Online only.
• The application/examination fee once paid will not be refunded, even if the application is rejected for any reason or the notification is cancelled.

Important Dates

• Date of Notification: 25-09-2026
• Start Date for Online Application: 01-10-2026
• Last Date for Online Application: 26-10-2026 (up to 11:59 PM)
• Download of Hall Tickets for Screening Test: One week before the Screening Test
• Screening Test (Computer Based Test): To be notified in due course
• Question Paper and Preliminary Key/Response Sheet: Within one week from the date of the Screening Test, with objections called for on the High Court website

The above dates are final, except where modified by the High Court in case of exigencies. The venue and time of the test will be mentioned in the Hall Ticket.

Selection Process

The selection process for Direct Recruitment consists of the following stages: Screening Test, Written Examination and Viva Voce.

Screening Test (Computer Based Test)

• 100 multiple choice objective type questions for 100 marks, with a duration of 2 hours.
• Applicants securing 40% and above marks are short-listed in the ratio of 1:10 of the available vacancies for the Written Examination. Candidates with identical marks are all called for the Written Examination.
• The Screening Test marks are not added to the Written Examination marks and are not counted for the final order of merit. Securing the minimum qualifying marks does not vest any right to be considered for the Written Examination.

Written Examination

• Questions must be answered only in English (except the translation test).
• Paper-III Part-I carries 40 marks: translating a passage from English to Telugu and from Telugu to English. Part-II carries 60 marks: essay writing on legal subjects only.
• Candidates must secure 40% marks in each part of Paper-III. Paper-III marks are not taken into account for eligibility for Viva Voce or for selection. Marks in Paper-I, Paper-II and Viva Voce are taken into account for selection.

Minimum Marks in Written Examination for Viva Voce

• Direct Recruitment - Open Competition/EWS: Not less than 55% in each of Paper-I and Paper-II, and not less than 60% in aggregate.
• Direct Recruitment - Backward Class: Not less than 50% in each of Paper-I and Paper-II, and not less than 55% in aggregate.
• Direct Recruitment - SC, ST and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities: Not less than 45% in each of Paper-I and Paper-II, and not less than 50% in aggregate.
• Recruitment by Transfer: Not less than 55% in each of Paper-I and Paper-II, and not less than 60% in aggregate.

Viva Voce and Merit List

• The Viva Voce carries 50 marks. A candidate who remains absent is deemed disqualified.
• After the Written Examination result, qualified candidates are called for Viva Voce in the ratio of 1:3 of the available vacancies in the respective categories. Candidates with identical cut-off marks are all called.
• Minimum aggregate in Written Examination and Viva Voce: 60% for OC/EWS, 55% for BC, and 50% for SC/ST and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities under Direct Recruitment; 60% under Recruitment by Transfer.
• Tie-break: If two or more candidates secure equal marks, the elder in age is considered. If still tied, the candidate with the higher educational qualification, and then the one with the highest marks in the prescribed educational qualification, is considered.
• Provisional selection is subject to verification of antecedents.

Syllabus for Screening Test and Written Examination

• Civil Laws: Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Indian Contract Act, 1872; Hindu Marriage Act, 1955; Hindu Succession Act, 1956; Indian Easements Act, 1882; Specific Relief Act, 1963; Limitation Act, 1963; Transfer of Property Act, 1882; Civil Rules of Practice; Registration Act, 1908 and Indian Stamp Act, 1899; AP Land Encroachment Act, 1905; Indian Evidence Act, 1872; Bharatiya Sakshya Abhiniyam, 2023 (BSA).
• Criminal Laws: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973; Indian Evidence Act, 1872; Indian Penal Code, 1860; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS); Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS); Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; Criminal Rules of Practice; AP Excise Act, 1968; AP Gaming Act, 1974; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; Information Technology Act, 2000; POCSO Act, 2012; AP Forest Act, 1967.

Examination Centres for Screening Test

• The Screening Test will be held at Guntur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry (Rajamahendravaram), Tirupati, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Applicants must opt for any three centres in the order of preference.
• The High Court may allot a centre other than the one chosen, or abolish/create centres for administrative reasons. Requests for change of centre will not be entertained.
• The Written Examination will be held at venues to be specified by the High Court after the Screening Test result.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates can apply for AP High Court Civil Judge (Junior Division) Recruitment 2026 through online mode only. Follow the steps below:

1. Visit the official High Court of Andhra Pradesh website, https://aphc.gov.in, and open the online application portal (available from 01-10-2026 to 26-10-2026).
2. Read the notification carefully and select the category (Direct Recruitment or Recruitment by Transfer) and the applicable reservation category.
3. Fill in the application with correct details and opt for three Screening Test centres in the order of preference.
4. Upload the required documents. For Direct Recruitment: certificate of date of birth/SSC, Law Degree certificate, and community certificate for SC/ST/BC/Persons with Benchmark Disabilities/EWS claims. BC applicants must upload the latest Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued in 2025 or 2026 (otherwise the candidature is considered under Open Competition). EWS applicants must upload the latest EWS certificate issued in 2025 or 2026 by the Tahsildar, showing gross annual family income below Rs. 8,00,000/-. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities must upload the Medical Board certificate, and ex-servicemen the Discharge Certificate.
5. For Recruitment by Transfer, also upload proof of declaration of probation, the employer's proceedings permitting the Law Degree course after entering service, and the latest Service and Conduct Certificate. The latest No-objection Certificate from the employer must be submitted at the time of verification of original certificates.
6. Pay the application/examination fee online (Rs. 1,500/- or Rs. 750/-, as applicable) and submit the application on or before 26-10-2026 (11:59 PM).
7. Download the Hall Ticket from the High Court website one week before the Screening Test.

Once the application is submitted, candidates cannot edit options or replace documents. Original certificates must be produced on the day mentioned by the High Court for verification, failing which the candidature will be rejected. The High Court will not entertain correspondence, and no information will be sent to unsuccessful candidates. Candidates must regularly visit the High Court website for updates, as no separate information is provided in any other mode. No TA/DA will be paid for the Screening Test, Written Examination or Viva Voce.

AP High Court Civil Judge (Junior Division) Important Links

• Apply Online: Click here
• Official Notification PDF: Click here
• Official Website: Click here 
• Join Arattai Channel: Click Here
• Join Telegram Channel: Click Here
• Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
• Sarkari Result: Click Here
• Download Mobile App: Click Here