Karnataka High Court District Judge (LDCE) Recruitment 2026

Overview

The High Court of Karnataka is inviting applications for the post of District Judge through a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) as per Rule 4-B of the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2025.

Important Note: This is an internal promotional recruitment and is NOT open to the general public.

Key Recruitment Details

• Total Vacancies: 79 (Subject to Supreme Court ruling in WP(C) No. 1022/1989)
• Post Name: District Judge (25% LDCE Category)
• Selection Process: Written Examination followed by a Viva-voce
• Application Mode: Online only

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must be serving Senior Civil Judges and satisfy the following as of 28.08.2026:

• Service as SCJ: Minimum 3 years of service as a Senior Civil Judge.
• Total Service: Minimum 7 years of combined service in the cadre of Civil Judge and Senior Civil Judge.
• Age: Minimum 35 years of age.
• Attempts: A maximum of 3 attempts are allowed for this LDCE.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 28 August 2026
• Application Deadline: 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM
• Eligibility Reckoning Date: 28 August 2026

Application Process

1. Visit the official portal at judiciary.karnataka.gov.in.
2. Complete the online application form with a valid mobile number and email ID.
3. Upload a recent passport-size photo (White background, max 50KB, JPG).
4. Upload a signature (Black ballpoint pen on white paper, max 25KB, JPG).
5. Submit the application before the deadline.