Karnataka High Court District Judge LDCE Recruitment 2026 – 79 Posts

Last verified against official notification: 31 August 2026

Karnataka High Court District Judge LDCE Recruitment 2026

The High Court of Karnataka has invited online applications from eligible Senior Civil Judges for 79 District Judge posts under the 25% Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) quota. This is an internal promotional recruitment open only to serving Senior Civil Judges. Applications are accepted at judiciary.karnataka.gov.in until 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM.

Selection will be strictly on merit through a Written Examination followed by Viva-voce. The number of posts may change based on the outcome of a pending Supreme Court writ petition (All India Judges' Association v. Union of India). Candidates can attempt this LDCE a maximum of 3 times.

This recruitment is governed by Rule 4-B of the Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2025. It is not open to the general public.

Karnataka HC LDCE 2026 — Important Dates

Important Dates

Application Fee

Nil. No application fee is required.

Karnataka HC LDCE 2026 — Vacancy and Eligibility

79 District Judge posts are available under the 25% LDCE quota. Selection is strictly on merit. The number of posts is subject to change based on a pending Supreme Court writ petition.

Vacancy Details

Eligibility Criteria

• Who Can Apply: Only serving Senior Civil Judges of Karnataka Judicial Service
• Minimum Service as Senior Civil Judge: 3 years
• Total Service: Minimum 7 years in combined cadre of Civil Judge and Senior Civil Judge
• Minimum Age: 35 years as on 28 August 2026
• Maximum Attempts: 3 attempts to appear in LDCE

Karnataka HC District Judge LDCE 2026 — Pay Scale

The pay scale for the promoted post of District Judge is not specified in the official notification. This is a promotion within the Karnataka Judicial Service. Candidates may refer to the applicable Karnataka Judicial Service pay rules for the District Judge cadre.

Karnataka HC LDCE 2026 — Selection Process

Selection is through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), consisting of a Written Examination followed by Viva-voce, strictly on merit.

• Procedure is under Rule 4-B of Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2025
• List of eligible applicants will be uploaded on the High Court website
• Intimation via SMS and email
• Admission Card/Call Letter to be downloaded from the High Court website
• Candidates must appear at their own expense at the notified place and time

Karnataka HC LDCE 2026 — How to Apply

Step-by-Step Application Process

• Step 1: Visit judiciary.karnataka.gov.in
• Step 2: Fill the online application with valid mobile number and email ID
• Step 3: Upload recent passport-size photo (white background, 5cm x 3.6cm, max 50KB, JPG)
• Step 4: Upload signature on white paper in black ballpoint pen (2.5cm x 7.5cm, max 25KB, JPG)
• Step 5: Verify all particulars before submitting
• Step 6: Submit online well before 15 September 2026, 11:59 PM

Documents Required

• Passport-size photograph — white background, 5cm x 3.6cm, max 50KB, JPG only
• Signature — white paper, black ballpoint pen, 2.5cm x 7.5cm, max 25KB, JPG only
• Valid mobile number and email ID (compulsory for all communication)

Karnataka HC LDCE 2026 — Important Links

Karnataka HC LDCE 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions