Delhi High Court HJS Exam Recruitment 2026

The High Court of Delhi is hiring 27 Higher Judicial Service members through direct recruitment. If you are an Advocate with at least 7 years of continuous practice, or a Judicial Officer with equivalent combined experience, you can apply online. The last date to apply is 15 July 2026. You should be between 35 and 45 years old, and the pay starts from Rs. 1,44,840 per month under the J-5 pay scale.

High Court of Delhi Higher Judicial Service Examination 2026 - 27 Posts

The High Court of Delhi has released a notification for 27 Higher Judicial Service posts, to be filled by way of direct recruitment from among practising advocates and serving judicial officers. Of these, 24 are existing vacancies and 3 are anticipated to arise by 30 June 2027. The entire process moves fast — applications open on 1 July 2026 and the Preliminary Examination is held on 26 July 2026, all within about a month. This is a great opportunity for senior advocates and judicial officers looking to join the higher judiciary in Delhi as a District Judge.

Vacancy Breakdown

• SC category: 3 out of 5 vacancies are backlog vacancies.
• ST category: 4 out of 5 vacancies are backlog vacancies.
• PwBD (40% or more disability): 3 vacancies are reserved across blindness/low vision, locomotor disability, and specific learning disability categories.

As per the Gazette notification dated 4 January 2021, the disabilities identified as suitable for the post of Judicial Officer are: (a) Blindness and low vision; (b) One arm, one leg, both legs, leprosy cured, dwarfism and acid attack victim; (c) Specific learning disability; and (d) Multiple disabilities involving these categories. 2 out of the 3 PwBD vacancies are carry-forward reservations from the DHJS Exam-2022, DHJS Exam-2023 and DHJS Exam-2024, and can be filled by interchange among the eligible categories if a suitable candidate is not available in the originally reserved category.

Note: The total number of vacancies is subject to change, including due to the implementation of the judgment dated 11 March 2026 in RP(C) No. 621/2021 in CA No. 1698/2020, titled Dheeraj Mor v. High Court of Delhi.

Who Can Apply?

• Citizenship: You must be a citizen of India.
• For Advocates: You need at least 7 years of continuous practice as an Advocate as on 15 July 2026.
• For Judicial Officers: You need either 7 years completed in the Bar before joining subordinate judicial service, or a combined 7 years of experience as a Judicial Officer and an Advocate.
• For those who have served in judicial service: You need a combined experience of 7 years or more as an Advocate or Judicial Officer.

Note: Your admission to each stage of the examination is provisional. If you are found ineligible at any point, your candidature can be cancelled without notice.

Full details on eligibility, relaxation in marks, and other terms and conditions are available in the Instructions document on the online application portal. You are advised to also go through the Delhi Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1970 (as amended) before filling up your application form.

Age Limit

• You should be between 35 and 45 years old as on 15 July 2026, the last date for receipt of application.

Salary

• Selected candidates will get a salary of Rs. 1,44,840 to Rs. 1,94,660 per month under the J-5 pay scale of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service.
• You will also get DA, HRA and other allowances as per High Court of Delhi rules.

Application Fee

• General Category: Rs. 2,000
• SC / ST / PwBD (40% or more disability): Rs. 500
• Payment mode: Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking or UPI (non-refundable).

Selection Process

The selection will be done in 3 stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type): Held on 26 July 2026 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with 25% negative marking for every wrong answer.
2. Mains Examination (Written): For candidates shortlisted from the Preliminary Exam.
3. Viva-Voce: The final interview round for candidates who clear the Mains Examination.

Detailed syllabus, marking scheme, and other general terms and conditions for all three stages are published in the Instructions document available on the online application portal.

How to Apply

1. Go to the online application portal linked from delhihighcourt.nic.in.
2. Create a new login from 1 July 2026, 10:00 AM onward.
3. Fill in the online application form with your personal and professional details.
4. Upload the required scanned documents and photograph.
5. Pay the application fee online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking or UPI.
6. Submit the form and take a printout for your own records — do not send it to the High Court.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 1 July 2026
• Online Application Start: 1 July 2026 (10:00 AM)
• Last Date to Apply Online: 15 July 2026 (5:30 PM)
• Last Date for Fee Payment: 15 July 2026
• Preliminary Exam Date: 26 July 2026 (11:00 AM to 1:00 PM)

• Preside over civil and criminal cases in the district judiciary
• Deliver reasoned judgments based on evidence and law
• Manage court proceedings, hearings, and case scheduling
• Supervise subordinate court staff and judicial officers
• Ensure timely disposal of pending cases
• Maintain accurate case records and court orders
• Hear appeals from lower courts within your jurisdiction
• Uphold judicial independence and constitutional principles