Karnataka HC Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 — 90 Vacancies

About This Job

The High Court of Karnataka is hiring 90 Civil Judges (Junior Division) through direct recruitment. If you have an LL.B degree and at least 3 years of practice as an advocate, this is your chance to join the Karnataka Judiciary. The last date to apply online is 15 May 2026. Salary starts from Rs. 77,840 per month going up to Rs. 1,36,520.

High Court of Karnataka Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 — 90 Posts

The High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru has released Notification No. HCRB/CJR-9/2026 dated 16th April 2026 for direct recruitment to 90 posts of Civil Judge. This includes 15 fresh vacancies and 75 backlog posts across various reservation categories. Selection is through a competitive examination — Preliminary Exam, Main Written Exam, and Viva-voce — conducted by the High Court itself. Practicing advocates with at least three years of experience can apply online at judiciary.karnataka.gov.in.

Vacancy Breakdown

Total: 90 posts (15 fresh + 75 backlog). Category-wise distribution:

• General Merit: 18 posts (7 fresh + 11 backlog)
• Scheduled Caste: 3 posts (2 fresh + 1 backlog)
• Scheduled Tribe: 2 posts (1 fresh + 1 backlog)
• Category-I (OBC): 18 backlog posts
• Category-IIA (OBC): 24 posts (2 fresh + 22 backlog)
• Category-IIB (OBC): 11 posts (1 fresh + 10 backlog)
• Category-IIIA (OBC): 9 posts (1 fresh + 8 backlog)
• Category-IIIB (OBC): 5 posts (1 fresh + 4 backlog)

Note: Posts include horizontal reservations for Women Candidates, Rural Candidates, Kannada Medium Students, Persons with Benchmark Disability, Ex-servicemen, and Transgender candidates.

Who Can Apply?

Educational Qualification

• You must hold a degree in law (LL.B) granted by a University established by law in India.

Practice Requirement (as on last date of application)

• You must be practicing as an advocate in the Supreme Court, High Court, District Court, or Trial Court for a continuous period of not less than 3 years; OR
• You must be working as a Public Prosecutor / Assistant Public Prosecutor / Government Counsel in full-time employment of the Central or State Government for a continuous period of not less than 3 years.

Other Requirements

• You must be a Citizen of India.
• After selection, you must pass the Kannada Language Examination conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission as required under the Karnataka Civil Services Rules.
• You must provide a valid Practicing Certificate issued by the Principal Judicial Officer or an advocate of standing, duly endorsed.

Age Limit

• General / Unreserved: Maximum 40 years
• Category-IIA / IIB / IIIA / IIIB (OBC): Maximum 43 years
• SC / ST / Category-I (OBC): Maximum 45 years
• Ex-servicemen: Age relaxed by an additional 3 years over the applicable limit

Age reference date is the last date fixed for receipt of applications (15 May 2026).

Salary

• Pay Scale: Rs. 77,840 to Rs. 1,36,520 per month
• You will also receive DA, HRA, and other allowances as per Karnataka Government rules.
• Selected candidates will be on probation for two years and must undergo training for at least one year before presiding over a court.

Application Fee

Preliminary Examination Fee:

• General Merit / Category-IIA / IIB / IIIA / IIIB: Rs. 1,000
• SC / ST / Category-I / Persons with Benchmark Disability: Rs. 500
• Payment mode: Online only (SBI e-pay gateway — Net Banking / Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI)

Main Written Examination Fee (payable separately if shortlisted):

• General Merit / Category-IIA / IIB / IIIA / IIIB: Rs. 1,500
• SC / ST / Category-I / Persons with Benchmark Disability: Rs. 750
• Fee payment details for Main Exam will be notified on the official website.

Selection Process

Selection is through a competitive examination in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (100 Marks — Objective Type): A screening exam with objective-type questions. Minimum passing marks: 60 for General category, 50 for SC/ST/PwBD. Candidates equal to 10 times the vacancies (category-wise) will be shortlisted for the Main Exam.
   • Part-A: Civil Law — CPC 1908, Negotiable Instruments Act, Transfer of Property Act, Indian Contract Act, Specific Relief Act, Indian Constitution, Karnataka Rent Act
   • Part-B: Criminal Law — CrPC 1973, BNSS 2023, IPC 1860, BNS 2023, Indian Evidence Act 1872, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023
   • Part-C: General Knowledge, Reasoning and Mental Ability
2. Main Written Examination (400 Marks total — 4 papers): Written exam in English or Kannada. Minimum 50 marks per paper for General category, 40 for SC/ST/PwBD. 3x vacancies shortlisted for Viva-voce.
   • Translation Paper: 100 marks (English to Kannada and Kannada to English — Depositions, Judgments, Documents)
   • Law Paper-I: 100 marks (CPC, CrPC/BNSS, Evidence Acts, Pleadings, Constitution)
   • Law Paper-II: 100 marks (Framing of Issues and Writing Judgments in Civil Cases)
   • Law Paper-III: 100 marks (Framing of Charges and Writing Judgments in Criminal Cases)
3. Viva-voce (100 Marks): Tests General Knowledge, grasp of legal principles, and suitability for judicial appointment. Minimum 25% for General, 20% for SC/ST/PwBD.
4. Computer Test (25 Marks): Not aggregated to the final score — used separately to assess computer knowledge for appointment suitability.

Exam centres for Preliminary Examination: Bengaluru, Dharwad, and Kalaburagi.

How to Apply

1. Go to the official High Court of Karnataka recruitment portal at judiciary.karnataka.gov.in.
2. Click on the recruitment link for Civil Judge (CJR-9/2026).
3. Register and fill in the online application form with your details.
4. Upload required documents — educational certificates, practicing certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), and photo/signature.
5. Pay the Preliminary Examination fee online through SBI e-pay gateway.
6. Submit the application and save the application number for future reference.
7. Take a printout of the submitted application form.

Note: Applications submitted through any mode other than online will not be accepted.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 16 April 2026
• Application Start Date: 16 April 2026
• Last Date to Apply Online & Pay Fee: 15 May 2026
• Exam Date (Preliminary): To be announced
• Exam Centres: Bengaluru, Dharwad, Kalaburagi

• Preside over civil and criminal cases in the Trial Court as a Civil Judge (Junior Division)
• Examine evidence, hear arguments, and deliver judgments in assigned cases
• Frame issues and write judgments in civil cases following proper legal procedure
• Frame charges and write judgments in criminal cases under applicable law
• Maintain court records, case files, and registers as per High Court directions
• Handle matters under the Code of Civil Procedure, Evidence Acts, and other applicable statutes
• Conduct proceedings in an impartial, fair, and time-bound manner
• Report to the District Judge and comply with High Court administrative guidelines