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HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

NOTIFICATION

No. HCRB/CJR-9/2026, DATED: 16^TH APRIL, 2026

DIRECT RECRUITMENT TO THE POST OF CIVIL JUDGE

LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF ONLINE APPLICATIONS

15^TH MAY, 2026

It is hereby notified that as per the provisions of the Karnataka Judicial

Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004 (Amendment) Rules, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2024

and 2025, the High Court of Karnataka invites online applications for direct

recruitment to 90 posts (15 fresh and 75 Backlog) of Civil Judges.

This Notification is subject to the final outcome of Writ Petition

No.200448/2025 c/w 17968/2025 and 3145/2023 pending before the

Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka.

1. Classification of 90 posts (includes 75 backlog Posts)

Category

Un-reserved

Women Candidate

Rural Candidate

Kannada Medium

Student

Persons with

benchmark disability

Ex-servicemen

Transgender

Total

General Merit

2 + 9*

1# + 2*

07 + 11*

Scheduled

Caste

1# + 1*

02 + 01*

Scheduled

Tribe

01 + 01*

¨sÁUÀ – 5

Part – V

, 16

, 2026

1948)

BENGALURU, THURSDAY, 16, APRIL, 2026 (CHAITHRA, 26, SHAKAVARSHA, 1948)

. 282

No. 282

Category - I

18*

Category - II(A)

1 +

1+6*

02 + 22*

Category - II(B)

1 +

01 + 10*

Category - III(A)

1 +

01 + 08*

Category - III(B)

1 +

01 + 04*

Total

3 +

5 +

19*

4 +

29*

2# +

10*

1 +

15 + 75*

Note:

1. The classification is made on the basis of Government Order No. DPAR 01 SeHiMa

2026 dated 27.02.2026.

2. (*) Indicates backlog posts.

3. (#) Indicates the classification of fresh vacancies for Persons with Benchmark

Disability made as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (Central

Act No.49 of 2016) and nature of disabilities is classified as per Government Order

No. DPAR 149 SRR 2020 dated 25.09.2020, the details of which are as under:

Category

Horizontal

Point

Nature of Disability

General Merit

Point No.64 #

Autism, intellectual disability,

specific learning disability and

mental illness

Multiple disabilities from amongst

persons under clauses (a) to (d)

including deaf-blindness in the

posts identified for each

disabilities

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Point No.44*

Deaf and Hard of hearing

Scheduled Caste

Point No.24#

Locomotor disability including

cerebral palsy, leprosy cured,

dwarfism, acid attack victim and

muscular dystrophy

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Scheduled Tribe

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Category – I

1 Post*

One Arm (OA) / One Leg (OL) /

Both Legs (BL)

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Category - II(A)

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Category - II(B)

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Category - III(A)

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

Category - III(B)

Point No.4*

Blindness and low vision

2. Scale of Pay:- Rs.77,840/- – 1,36,520/-

3. Method of Recruitment:-

Selection of candidates will be made in accordance with

a) The Karnataka Judicial Service (Recruitment) Rules, 2004 (Amendment)

Rules, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2024 and 2025 and relevant orders / Notification

/ Circular issued by the Government of Karnataka from time to time.

b) Procedure for recruitment:- By direct recruitment on the basis of aggregate

marks obtained in the Competitive Examination (Written Examination and

Viva-voce) conducted by the High Court.

4. Qualification:

A. Direct Recruitment:-

i. Must be holder of a degree in law granted by a University established by

law in India.

ii. As on the last date fixed for receipt of application,-

a) must be practicing as an advocate in the Supreme Court of India or High

Courts or District and Trial Courts in the Country and must have so

practiced continuously for a period of not less than three years; or must

be working as a Public Prosecutor / Assistant Public Prosecutor /

Government Counsel in full time employment of the Central Government

or State Governments of the Country and must have so worked for a

period of not less than three years

B. Age:-

i. The candidate applying to the post must not have completed:

a. Forty Five years of age in the case of candidates belonging to any of

the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or Category-I of the Other

Backward Classes;

b. Forty Three years of age in the case of candidates belonging to any of

the Category II(A) or II(B) or III(A) or III(B) of Other Backward Classes;

and

c. Forty years of age in the case of any other candidate.

ii. The maximum age limit is relaxed by three years in case of ex-servicemen

candidates.

Note:- The Age relaxation is provided as per Government Order No.DPAR 262

SeNeNi 2025 dated 29.01.2026.

C. Competitive Examination:-

(1) The Competitive Examination for recruitment of Civil Judges shall consist of

three stages i.e.,

(a) Preliminary Examination

(b) Main Examination and

(a)

Preliminary Examination:-

The Preliminary Examination will be conducted by way of Objective Type

Question and Paper consisting of 100 marks and the syllabi for the said

examination is as under:-

Part-A : Code of Civil Procedure, 1908;

Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881;

Transfer of Property Act, 1882;

Indian Contract Act, 1872;

Specific Relief Act, 1963;

Indian Constitution; and

Karnataka Rent Act, 1999.

Part-B : Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023;

Indian Penal Code, 1860 and

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; and

Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023;

Part-C : General knowledge – Test of reasoning

and mental ability.

(b)

Main Examination:-

(i)

Translation Paper (Maximum Marks 100)

There will be one translation paper and the candidates will be required

to translate passages in English into Kannada and Kannada into

English. The Passages will be from (1) Depositions (2) Judgments and

(3) Documents.

(ii)

Law Paper - I (Maximum Marks 100)

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908;

The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023;

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023;

Principles of Pleading and

The Constitution of India.

(iii)

Law Paper - II (Maximum Marks 100)

Framing of Issues and Writing of Judgments in Civil Cases.

(iv)

Law Paper - III (Maximum Marks 100)

Framing of Charges and Writing of Judgments in Criminal Cases.

(c)

Viva-voce (Maximum Marks 100)

The candidate’s General Knowledge, grasp of Principles of Law and suitability

for appointment as Civil Judge will be tested.

(d)

Computer Test (Maximum Marks 25)

The test of knowledge of computers shall carry maximum 25 marks and such

marks secured by the candidate shall be considered for ascertaining the

suitability and computer knowledge of the candidates and will not be

aggregated to the total marks obtained in the Written Examination and Viva-

voce.

Note: The candidates are permitted to write the Main Examination either in English or

in Kannada.

(e)

Eligibility for Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Viva-

voce.

(i) Minimum marks for pass in the Preliminary Examination is 50 for

candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or Persons

with Benchmark Disability category and 60 for others.

(ii) From among the candidates who are eligible for written examination as

per the clause (i) above, as far as may be, such number of candidates as

is equal to 10 (ten) times the number of vacancies notified, having regard

to the number of vacancies in each reserved category, selected in the order

of merit, will be called for Written Examination.

(iii) Minimum marks for pass in each paper of the Written Examination is 40

for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or

Persons with Benchmark Disability category and 50 for others.

(iv) From among the candidates who are eligible for Viva-voce as per the

clause (iii) above, as far as may be, such number of candidates as is equal

to 3 (three) times the number of vacancies notified, having regard to the

number of vacancies in each reserved category, selected in the order of

merit, will be called for Viva-voce.

(v) Minimum marks for pass in the Viva-voce shall be 20% marks for

candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or Persons

with Benchmark Disability category and 25% marks for others.

Provided that no candidate who has secured less than the minimum

marks specified above:

(i) in any paper of the Written Examination shall be eligible

for Viva - voce.

(ii) in any paper of the Written Examination or in

Viva-voce shall be eligible for appointment as Civil Judge.

A candidate belonging to the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes

/ Persons with Benchmark Disability category has to secure the

following minimum marks in the Preliminary Examination, Main

Written Examination and Viva-voce in order to be considered for

selection under General Category:

Preliminary Examination

60 Marks

Main Written Examination

50 Marks in each paper

Viva-voce

25 Marks

5. Probation and Training:-

The candidate selected and appointed will be initially on probation for two years

or for extended period, if necessary. Further, the candidates who are appointed

to the post of Civil Judge pursuant to their selection through direct recruitment

must compulsorily undergo training for a period of not less than one year before

presiding the Court.

The candidate shall pass the Kannada Language Examination conducted by the

Karnataka Public Service Commission in accordance with the Karnataka Civil

Services (Services and Kannada Language Examinations) Rules, 1974.

6. Mode of applying online application and Payment of Fee:-

(a) The candidate shall ensure that he/she fulfills the eligibility criteria and

other norms and while submitting online application and all the particulars

furnished by the candidate are correct in all respects. The candidate shall

read all the instructions carefully before submitting online application. The

candidate shall apply by visiting the High Court of Karnataka website

https://judiciary.karnataka.gov.in// Applications submitted by any other

mode other than online will not be considered.

(b) Before final submission of the application by the candidate, it shall be

ensured that the information furnished is correct in all respects and

necessary fee is paid. After submission, application number will be generated

which shall be preserved for future reference. A printout of the application

shall also be taken for reference.

(c) The candidate shall upload all documents relating to Education Qualification

and Reservation Claimed.

(d) While submitting application through online, the candidate shall make

online payment of prescribed fee through State Bank of India (SBI) e-pay

payment gateway. The fee can be paid through online mode only through Net

Banking /Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI ID. It may be noted that fee once paid

will not be returned under any circumstances.

(e) The applications which are not submitted within the last date and the

applications to which the prescribed fee is not paid within the last date, such

incomplete applications will be rejected.

The last date for submission of online application and payment of fee is

15.05.2026.

(f) Preliminary Examination Fee:

The

candidate

belonging

General

Merit

and

Category-

II(A)/II(B)/III(A)/III(B) shall remit fee of ₹1,000/- (One Thousand Rupees

only). The candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes /

Category-I / Persons with Benchmark Disability category shall remit fee of

₹500/- (Five Hundred Rupees only).

(g) Main Written Examination fee:

The candidates who are eligible to appear for the Main Written Examination

shall remit the Main Written Examination Fee within the specified time which

will be intimated in the official website of High Court of Karnataka.

The

candidates

belonging

General

Merit

and

Category

–

II(A)/II(B)/III(A)/III(B) shall remit fee of ₹1500/- (One Thousand Five

Hundred Rupees only). The candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/

Scheduled Tribes/ Category-I/ Persons with Benchmark Disability category

shall remit fee of ₹750/- (Seven Hundred and Fifty Rupees only).

To candidates who fail to remit the fee within such period of time will not be

considered for Main Written Examination.

7. The guidelines relating to conducting the Examinations to the candidates

belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability category is at Appendix-

‘I’ of this Notification.

8. Other conditions:-

1. Practicing Certificate

a) Candidate must furnish a certificate stating that he/she is a practicing

advocate as on the date of issue of such certificate indicating the length of

continuous practice:

i. issued either by the Principal Judicial Officer of the Court in which

the candidate is actually practicing or by an advocate of that Court

having a minimum standing of ten years duly endorsed by the

Principal Judicial Officer of such District or a Principal Judicial

Officer at such a station, if he is practicing before the District and

Trial Courts in the country.

ii. issued by an advocate who has a minimum standing of ten years,

duly endorsed by an officer designated by Supreme Court of India /

High Courts for this purpose, if the candidate is practicing before the

Supreme Court of India / High Courts, as the case may be.

2. Candidate shall opt for the Place of Examination Centre for Preliminary

Examination i.e., Bengaluru, Dharwad and Kalaburagi. The candidates shall

note that the change of centre will not be permitted under any

circumstances.

3. Candidate shall appear for the Preliminary Examination, Main Written

Examination and Viva-voce on their own cost.

4. Candidate claiming reservations shall possess the certificates/ documents

with regard to reservations as applicable at the time of submitting online

application and produce the same whenever directed by the Selection

Committee, without fail:-

Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Category–I / II(A) / II(B) /

III(A) / III(B) in the format as prescribed by the Government of

Karnataka;

ii.

For claiming reservation under the Persons with Benchmark

Disability category, the candidate shall possess the certificate in

the prescribed format issued by the Competent Authority. Such

of the candidates shall also read the guidelines issued in this

Notification;

iii.

Certificate of release or discharge from the Armed Services under

Ex-servicemen category;

iv.

Rural category candidate should have studied from 1^st to 10^th

standard in rural areas. The candidate shall possess Rural

Study Certificate in the format prescribed by the Government of

Karnataka in its G.O. No.DPAR 96 SRR 2005 dated 10.08.2005,

duly attested by the Head Master of the School and

countersigned by the concerned Block Education Officer (BEO).

General Merit candidate claiming reservation under Rural

category shall also possess certificate in Form-1 obtained from

concerned Tahsildar as per G.O. No. DPAR 8 SRR 2001 dated

13.02.2001, certifying that they do not fall under the Creamy

Layer prescribed by Government of Karnataka;

vi.

For claiming reservation under Kannada Medium category, the

candidate shall possess certificate for having studied in

Kannada Medium from 1^st to 10^th standard in prescribed format

as per Government Notification No. DPAR 71 SRR 2001 dated

24.10.2002, duly attested by the Head Master of the School and

countersigned by the concerned Block Education Officer (BEO);

vii.

Candidates belonging to Transgender shall possess the

Certificate issued by the Competent Authority as per Section 6

of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

5. Candidate shall furnish three certificates of character one from the

Institution in which the candidate has studied LL.B, with study details and

other two issued by the respectable persons in the society not being relative

but well acquainted with the candidate at the time of document verification.

6. Candidate called for the document verification at the time of Viva-voce shall

produce all relevant original documents along with three sets of self

attested copies of the same with regard to Educational Qualification, SSLC

or equivalent examination certificate as a proof of Date of Birth, ID/Address

Proof, Marks cards of Degree, Law Degree, Convocation Certificates,

Certificate of Practice, Caste, reservations claimed with regard to Rural /

Persons with Benchmark Disability/ Ex–servicemen/ Kannada Medium and

Transgenders etc., (as applicable) for verification.

9. Disqualification for Appointment:- No person shall be eligible for appointment

to the service –

(a) unless he/she is a Citizen of India;

(b) if he/she is compulsorily retired, removed or dismissed from Judicial Service

or from service in Government or Statutory or Local Authority or if a

candidate after being selected as a Judicial Officer has been discharged from

service during probationary period;

is or has been permanently debarred or disqualified by the High Court or the

Union Public Service Commission or any State Public Service Commission

from appearing for examinations or selections conducted by it or has been

removed from its roll by any Bar Council;

(d) if any penalty or punishment has been imposed by the Bar Council or any

Disciplinary Authority which in the opinion of Selecting Authority, makes the

applicant unsuitable for a judicial post;

(e) if he/she directly or indirectly influences the Recruiting Authority by any

means for his/her candidature;

(f) if the marital status of the candidate is bigamous.

10. On verification, at any time or at any stage of recruitment, if it is found

that the information furnished by the candidate in the application is false

or the candidate does not fulfill any of the eligibility criteria and/or that

he/she has suppressed/twisted or truncated any material facts, his/her

candidature will stand cancelled. If any of these shortcomings is found

even after appointment, his/her appointment shall be liable to be

terminated. Furnishing of wrong, incomplete or incorrect information

would not only lead to disqualification but also liable for criminal

prosecution for furnishing such information.

BY ORDER,

Sd/-

(K.S. BHARATH KUMAR)

REGISTRAR GENERAL AND SECRETARY,

CIVIL JUDGES RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE,

HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,

BENGALURU.

HCRB/CJR-9/2026

APPENDIX - I

GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING PRELIMINARY AND MAIN WRITTEN

EXAMINATION FOR PERSONS WITH BENCHMARK DISABILITY FOR THE

POST OF CIVIL JUDGE BY DIRECT RECRUITMENT:-

READ: (1)

Government Order No. DPAR 272 SRR 2013 dated

11.02.2021 issued by Government of Karnataka.

******

The State Government after considering the Office Memorandum No.

F.No.34-02/2015-DD-III dated 29.08.2018 issued by Government of India,

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of

Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) issued Government order read at (1) above.

Keeping in view the Office Memorandum and Government Order read at (1)

above, the following guidelines are framed for conducting Preliminary and Main

Written Examination for persons with benchmark disability to the post of Civil

Judge by Direct Recruitment.

The guidelines for conducting Preliminary / Main Written

Examination for the post of Civil Judge by direct recruitment are

applicable to the candidates with benchmark disability of

Blindness, Locomotor, Cerebral Palsy and other categories of

benchmark disabilities who have limitation in writing including

that of speed.

In the Section 2(r) of the Rights of Person with Disability Act, 2016

(hereinafter referred to as ‘RPwD Act, 2016’), “Person with

benchmark disability” is defined as quoted below:

(r)” person with benchmark disability means a person

with not less than forty per cent, of a specified

disability where specified disability has not been

defined in measurable terms and includes a person

with disability where specified disability has been

identified in measurable terms, as certified by the

certifying authority.”

In addition to that in the Section 2 (zc) of the Act, 2016, “specified

disability” is defined as quoted below:

“(zc) “Specified disability “means the disabilities as

specified in the schedule.”

The facility of Scribe / Reader will be allowed to any persons with

benchmark disabilities as defined under section 2(r) of the RPwD,

2016 and has physical limitation in writing including that of speed

and in the category of visual impairment, loco-motor disability

(both Arms affected – BA), Cerebral Palsy, if so desired by

candidate.

In case of other category of candidate with benchmark disabilities,

the provision of scribe / reader will be allowed on production of a

certificate to the effect that the person concerned has physical

limitation to write, from the Medical Board as per G.O. No. DPAR

272 SRR 2013 dated 11.02.2021 (Annexure – 1).

The appointing authority will prepare list of scribes amongst the

employees of High Court of Karnataka so as to enable the

candidates to avail the facility of scribes. The candidates will be

allowed to meet the scribe two days before the examination so that

the candidates get a chance to check and verify whether the scribe

is suitable to him / her or not.

The qualification of the scribe shall not be more than the minimum

qualification

criteria

the

examination.

However,

the

qualification of the scribe / reader shall always be matriculate or

above.

The candidate will be allowed to change the scribe / reader in case

of emergency. The candidates shall also be allowed to take more

than one scribe / reader for writing different papers. However,

there can be only one scribe per subject.

Persons with benchmark disabilities should be given, as far as

possible, the option of choosing the mode for taking the

examinations i.e., only in Braille or screen reader or in large print

or even by recording the answers as the examining bodies can

easily make use of technology to convert question paper in large

prints, e-text or Braille and can also convert Braille text in English

or regional languages.

The Candidate with Benchmark disability or Specified Disability

shall submit the Disability Certificate for claiming reservation with

regard to disability along with other necessary documents at the

time of submitting application for recruitment.

10.

The compensatory time of 20 minutes per every hour of

examination will be provided to the candidates who are allowed to

take the facility of the scribe. For all the candidates with the

Benchmark Disability who are not availing the facility of scribe will

be allowed an extra additional time of 1 hour for an examination

of 3 hours duration.

11.

Proper seating arrangement preferably on the ground floor, will be

made prior to the commencement of examination to avoid

confusion or distraction on the day of the exam. The time of giving

the question papers shall be marked accurately and timely supply

of supplementary papers will be ensured.

12.

An Admission Card will be issued by the Appointing Authority to

the scribe provided to the candidate. The details and the

photograph of the scribe should be affixed on the Admission Card.

13.

The conversation between the scribe and the candidates should

not disturb other candidates and maintain peace in the

examination hall.

14.

The scribe chosen by the candidate from the list as in Clause (5)

shall maintain utmost integrity throughout the process.

15.

The candidates appearing for the medical examination are not

eligible for any Traveling allowance / Daily allowance.

16.

The candidates will be allowed to use assistive device i.e., Braille

slate.

17.

The disability certificate provided by the certifying Authorities in

any part of the country under rules constituted as per the Act of

2016 and its provisions will be considered after verifying its

authenticity.

Sd/-

(K.S. BHARATH KUMAR)

REGISTRAR GENERAL AND SECRETARY,

CIVIL JUDGES RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE,

HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,

BENGALURU.

Annexure - I

(As per Paragraph 05 of the Government Order No: DPAR 272 SRR 2013

Dated: 11/02/2021)

Certificate regarding physical limitation of an examinee to write.

(Excluding the candidates with the following benchmark disabilities: blindness,

locomotors disability (Both arms affected) and Cerebral Palsy)

This is to certify that the Medical Board has examined Mr./Ms/Mrs.

_____________ (name of the candidate with disability), a person with

__________________ (nature and percentage of disability as mentioned in the

certificate of disability) S/o/ D/o______________ a resident of _____________

(Village/ District/ State) and state that he / she has Physical Limitations

which hampers his/her writing capabilities owing to his/her disability.

(Signature)

Chairman and Member, Medical Board

Place:

Date:

Note:

1. The name and the post of the Chairman and the member along with the

details of the place of the Medical Board should be clearly mentioned.

2. It should be ensured that one of the specialist doctors related to the

disability of a person is a member of the respective

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