Delhi HC Higher Judicial Service Recruitment 2026

About This Job

The High Court of Delhi is hiring for 27 District Judge posts under the Delhi Higher Judicial Service (DHJS) through direct recruitment. This is a senior judicial post — selected candidates are appointed as Additional District & Sessions Judges in the Delhi judiciary. If you are a lawyer with at least 7 years of practice, or a judicial officer with the same experience, you can apply online. The pay scale is Rs. 1,44,840 to Rs. 1,94,660 per month (J-5 level), and the last date to apply is 15 July 2026.

Delhi Higher Judicial Service Recruitment 2026 - 27 Posts

The High Court of Delhi has released the notification for the Delhi Higher Judicial Service Examination 2026 to fill 27 vacancies (24 existing and 3 anticipated) at the District Judge level. Officers of this service work as Additional District & Sessions Judges and decide important civil and criminal cases. Selection is done through three successive stages — a Preliminary Test, a Mains (Written) exam, and a Viva-voce. This is a strong chance for experienced advocates and serving judicial officers to step into the higher judiciary in Delhi with a stable, senior-level government posting.

Vacancy Breakdown

Here is how the 27 posts are split category-wise:

• General: 17 posts (14 existing + 3 anticipated)
• SC (Scheduled Caste): 5 posts
• ST (Scheduled Tribe): 5 posts

3 of the 5 SC posts and 4 of the 5 ST posts are backlog vacancies. Out of the total 27 posts, 3 posts are reserved horizontally for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (40% or more).

Who Can Apply?

You must be a citizen of India and meet one of the experience conditions below, counted as on 15 July 2026:

For Advocates

• You must have been continuously practising as an advocate for at least 7 years.

For Judicial Officers

• You must have completed 7 years in the Bar before joining the subordinate judicial service, OR
• You must have 7 years of combined experience as a Judicial Officer and an Advocate.

If you have worked partly as an advocate and partly as a judicial officer, your combined experience of 7 years or more is counted together to decide your eligibility.

Age Limit

• You must have completed 35 years and not yet reached 45 years of age as on 15 July 2026.
• Age relaxation for reserved categories is given as per the Delhi Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1970 (as amended).

Salary

• Selected judges will get a pay scale of Rs. 1,44,840 to Rs. 1,94,660 per month (J-5 level of the judicial pay matrix).
• You will also get Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and other allowances as per government rules.

Application Fee

• General category: Rs. 2,000
• SC / ST / Persons with Disabilities (40% or more): Rs. 500
• Payment mode: Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking or UPI. The fee is non-refundable.

Selection Process

The selection happens in three successive stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective / MCQ): One paper of 200 marks with 25% negative marking, held on 26 July 2026 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This is only a screening test — you need 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwD) to qualify, and these marks are not added to your final result. Only the top candidates (up to 10 times the vacancies in each category) move to the Mains.
2. Mains Examination (Written): A descriptive written exam on law that decides who gets called for the interview.
3. Viva-voce (Interview): The final stage. Your final merit is based on your Mains and Viva-voce marks.

How to Apply

1. Go to the official website of the High Court of Delhi at delhihighcourt.nic.in.
2. Create a new login and open the DHJS 2026 online application form.
3. Fill in your personal, educational and experience details.
4. Upload your photo, signature and required documents.
5. Pay the application fee online through Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI.
6. Submit the form and take a printout for your records.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Your candidature is provisional at every stage. Your eligibility is checked carefully, and it can be cancelled anytime if you do not meet the conditions.
• The application fee is non-refundable, so make sure you are eligible before you pay.
• Keep the printout of your form for future reference, but do not post it to the High Court of Delhi.
• Read the official Instructions and the Delhi Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1970 on the website before you fill the form.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 1 July 2026
• Online Application Start: 1 July 2026 (10:00 AM)
• Last Date to Apply and Pay Fee: 15 July 2026 (5:30 PM)
• Preliminary Exam Date: 26 July 2026 (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
• Mains Exam & Viva-voce: To be announced

• Preside over civil suits, sessions cases and appeals in the district courts of Delhi
• Hear both sides, examine evidence and decide cases fairly under the law
• Pass clear, reasoned judgments and orders within the given timelines
• Supervise the work of subordinate courts and court staff
• Manage case scheduling, court records and timely disposal of pending cases
• Ensure the smooth day-to-day working and administration of the court
• Uphold judicial discipline, integrity and the rule of law at all times