High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati Civil Judge Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 119 Vacancies (Notification No. 118/2026-RC)

The High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati has officially released its comprehensive employment notification (Notification No. 118/2026-RC, Dated 25.09.2026) under the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026 for the direct recruitment and recruitment by transfer of qualified law graduates to fill 119 vacancies for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service.

The online application registration window officially commenced on 1st October 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official High Court portal up to 26th October 2026 (11:59 PM).

Recruitment Overview Matrix

Feature	Details
Conducting Organization	High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati
Notification Number	Notification No. 118/2026-RC (Dated 25.09.2026)
Post Designation	Civil Judge (Junior Division)
Cadre / Service	Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service
Total Openings	119 Vacancies (96 Direct Recruitment + 23 Recruitment by Transfer)
Job Location	State of Andhra Pradesh
Application Mode	Online Only (via official AP High Court recruitment portal)
Notification Release Date	25th September 2026
Online Application Start Date	1st October 2026
Last Date & Time to Apply	26th October 2026 (Up to 11:59 PM)
Official Website Portal	aphc.gov.in

Important Schedule & Timeline Matrix

Event Description	Official Dates & Timeline
Official Notification Publication Date	25th September 2026
Commencement of Online Application Window	1st October 2026
Closing Date & Time for Online Applications	26th October 2026 (Up to 11:59 PM)
Cut-off Date for Age & Eligibility Calculations	1st September 2026
Hall Ticket / Admit Card Release Date	One week before the Screening Test
Screening Test Date (CBT)	To be announced separately on the portal
Release of Preliminary Key & Response Sheets	Within one week of the Screening Test

Post, Vacancy & Category Distribution Matrix

The 119 vacancies are allocated across two separate streams:

1. Direct Recruitment (96 Posts)

• Open Competition (OC): 39 Posts (including 13 reserved for women)
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 9 Posts (3 for women)
• Backward Classes (BC-A): 7 Posts (2 for women)
• Backward Classes (BC-B): 10 Posts (3 for women)
• Backward Classes (BC-C): 1 Post
• Backward Classes (BC-D): 6 Posts
• Backward Classes (BC-E): 4 Posts
• Scheduled Castes (SC Group-I): 1 Post
• Scheduled Castes (SC Group-II): 7 Posts
• Scheduled Castes (SC Group-III): 6 Posts
• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 6 Posts
• Note: Horizontal reservations for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) and Ex-Servicemen apply as per state guidelines.

2. Recruitment by Transfer (23 Posts)

• Open Competition (OC): 18 Posts
• Scheduled Castes (SC Group-I): 1 Post
• Scheduled Castes (SC Group-III): 1 Post
• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 3 Posts
• Total Recruitment by Transfer Openings: 23 Posts

Salary Scale & Compensation Structure Matrix

• Pay Scale Framework: ₹77,840 – ₹1,36,520/- per month.
• Training Period Emoluments: During the initial period of training and clerkship, trainee judges receive half of the regular remuneration as per judicial service guidelines.
• Allowances: Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, medical benefits, and official vehicle/telecom perks as admissible under Andhra Pradesh judicial rules.

Eligibility Criteria & Essential Parameters

1. Age Limit Parameters (As on 1st September 2026)

• For Direct Recruitment: Candidates must not have completed 35 years of age as on 1st September 2026.
• For Recruitment by Transfer: Candidates must not have completed 48 years of age as on 1st September 2026.
• Age Relaxations: Upper age limits are relaxable by 5 years for SC, ST, BC, and EWS candidates; up to 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD); and equivalent service periods for military personnel.

2. Educational & Professional Qualifications

• Direct Recruitment Stream:
  • Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B.) awarded by a recognized University established in India.
  • Note on Fresh Graduates: In accordance with recent judicial norms and guidelines, law graduates who obtained their law degree in the year preceding the notification date are eligible to apply.
• Recruitment by Transfer Stream:
  • Must possess a recognized Degree in Law (LL.B.).
  • Must be a confirmed member or approved probationer in eligible administrative categories of the AP High Court or District Judiciary establishments (such as Section Officers, Court Masters, Superintendents, Senior/Junior Assistants, Stenographers, etc.).
• General Parameters: Must be a citizen of India, of sound health, and possess high moral character.

Scheme & Structure of Examination

The multi-tier selection process comprises three distinct stages:

Stage 1: Screening Test (Computer-Based Online Test – 100 Marks)

• Format: 100 Objective Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs).
• Duration: 2 Hours.
• Purpose: Shortlisting candidates for the Main Written Examination in a ratio of 1:10 to the available vacancies. Candidates must score a minimum of 40% marks to qualify. (Scores are not counted toward final merit).

Stage 2: Main Written Examination (Descriptive Papers)

• Paper-I (Civil Laws): 100 Marks (Covers Indian Contract Act, Specific Relief Act, Transfer of Property Act, Hindu Law, Civil Procedure Code, etc.)
• Paper-II (Criminal Laws): 100 Marks (Covers Indian Penal Code / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Criminal Procedure Code / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Indian Evidence Act / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Negotiable Instruments Act, etc.)
• Paper-III (English Translation & Essay): 100 Marks (Translation passage 40 marks + Legal essay/summarization 60 marks — qualifying nature requiring 40% in each part).
• Minimum Qualifying Marks for Written Papers: 55% for OC/EWS, 50% for BC, and 45% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.

Stage 3: Viva-voce Test (Interview – 50 Marks)

• Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview carrying 50 marks.
• Final Merit Calculation: Drawn strictly on the combined aggregate score of Paper-I (100) + Paper-II (100) + Viva-voce (50) = Total 250 Marks.

Application Fee Structure

Category of Applicant	Application Processing & Examination Fee
Open Competition (OC) / EWS / Backward Classes (BC)	₹1,500/-
Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) / PwBD	₹750/-
Payment Mode: Online digital transaction gateway via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.

Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online

1. Visit Official Portal: Navigate to the official High Court of Andhra Pradesh website at aphc.gov.in.
2. Access Recruitment Section: Go to the Recruitment tab and click on the notification link for “Civil Judge (Junior Division) Recruitment 2026 (Notification No. 118/2026-RC)”.
3. Read Guidelines Carefully: Review the detailed instructions and eligibility parameters.
4. Complete Online Registration: Register on the portal using your personal credentials, active email address, and mobile number.
5. Fill Application Form: Enter your complete academic history, professional details, and select up to three preferred Screening Test centers.
6. Upload Documents: Upload scanned digital copies of your passport-size photograph, signature, LL.B. degree certificate, date of birth proof, and applicable community/EWS/disability certificates in the prescribed size limits.
7. Fee Payment & Final Submission: Pay the requisite application fee online, review all data entries on the preview page, and submit your application before 26th October 2026 (11:59 PM). Download and print a hard copy of the final application receipt for future records.

🔗 AP High Court Official Website Portal

🔗 Direct Link to Apply Online via AP High Court Portal

📄 Download AP High Court Civil Judge Notification PDF

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the last date to apply online for AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026?

A: The online application submission deadline is strictly 26th October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.

Q2: How many vacancies are announced under this notification?

A: A total of 119 vacancies have been advertised, comprising 96 posts under Direct Recruitment and 23 posts under Recruitment by Transfer.

Q3: What is the age limit for Direct Recruitment applicants?

A: Candidates applying through Direct Recruitment must not have completed 35 years of age as on 1st September 2026, with allowable relaxations for reserved categories.

Q4: What is the monthly pay scale for the Civil Judge post?

A: Selected candidates are appointed in the judicial pay scale of ₹77,840 – ₹1,36,520/-.

Q5: What is the selection methodology for AP Civil Judge Recruitment?

A: The selection process involves a Screening Test (CBT), a Main Written Examination (Papers I, II, and III), and a Viva-voce Test (Interview).