If you are a law graduate dreaming of the judiciary, this is the notification you have been waiting for. The AP High Court Civil Judge Recruitment 2026 is now open, with the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati inviting online applications for 119 posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division).
This is a proper, full-scale judicial service recruitment, not a handful of leftover seats. Out of the 119 vacancies, 96 are for direct recruitment (open to law graduates) and 23 are filled through recruitment by transfer (for eligible court and legal department staff).
The pay is worth noting in its own right. The Civil Judge (Junior Division) post carries a pay scale of Rs 77,840 to Rs 1,36,520, which puts it among the best-paid entry-level government jobs a law graduate can land. Selected candidates first serve as Trainee Judicial Officers with one year of training at the Judicial Academy, followed by a year of law clerkship before regular posting.
Key dates: apply by 26 October
- Online applications open: 1 October 2026
- Last date to apply: 26 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM
- Notification: No. 118/2026-RC, dated 25 September 2026
- Official website: https://aphc.gov.in
Applications are accepted online only. There is no offline mode, so do not wait for the last day. Government recruitment portals tend to slow down badly in the final 48 hours.
Vacancy breakup
- Direct Recruitment: 96 posts
- Recruitment by Transfer: 23 posts
- Total: 119 posts
The recruitment is governed by the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial (Service and Cadre) Rules, 2026.
Who can apply: eligibility
Direct Recruitment (96 posts)
You need a Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) from a recognised university and must be enrolled as an advocate under the Advocates Act. That is the core of it. If you have finished your law degree and hold Bar enrolment, you are in the running.
Recruitment by Transfer (23 posts)
This route is for serving staff: High Court employees (section officers, court officers, court masters, personal secretaries, assistants, stenographers), district judiciary staff, assistant and additional public prosecutors, section officers in the Law Department and Legislature Department, and managers in the offices of the Advocate General and government pleaders, among others. You must be a confirmed employee or an approved probationer, and staff facing disciplinary charges or serving punishments cannot apply.
A small editorial aside: the transfer route is the quieter half of this notification, but it is a genuine second door into the judiciary for people already working inside the system. If that is you, do not dismiss it as a side scheme. Twenty-three posts is a serious number.
Age limit (as on 1 September 2026)
- Direct Recruitment, OC: below 35 years
- Direct Recruitment, SC / ST / BC / EWS: below 40 years
- Direct Recruitment, PwBD: below 45 years
- Recruitment by Transfer: below 48 years
Ex-defence personnel applying under direct recruitment can deduct their defence service from their age. Anyone who was dismissed or compulsorily retired from government or judicial service, convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude, or debarred by a High Court, UPSC or State PSC is disqualified.
Application fee
- OC / EWS / BC: ₹1,500
- SC / ST / PwBD: ₹750
The fee is paid online and is non-refundable, even if your application is rejected or the notification is cancelled. The reduced fee for SC and ST candidates applies only if the community is recognised as SC or ST in Andhra Pradesh.
Selection process
Three stages, in this order:
- Screening Test: computer-based, 100 marks
- Written Examination
- Viva Voce: 50 marks
You will need original certificates for verification when the High Court asks for them, so get your documents in order early rather than hunting for them at the last minute.
How to apply
- Go to https://aphc.gov.in and find the recruitment section
- Open Notification No. 118/2026-RC and read it carefully before you start
- Fill the online application form with your personal, educational and Bar enrolment details
- Pay the fee online (₹1,500 or ₹750 depending on your category)
- Submit before 26 October 2026, 11:59 PM, and save a printout of the submitted form
Why this matters
Civil Judge (Junior Division) is the entry gate to the state judiciary, and 119 posts in one notification is a large intake by any standard. The pay scale is strong, the job security is the kind only the judiciary offers, and the training structure means you are groomed for the bench rather than thrown at it.
If you are eligible, apply early, prepare the screening test seriously, and read the official notification on aphc.gov.in before trusting any summary, including this one. We also cover other government job updates in our education section, and our earlier DSSSB recruitment post is a useful reference for how these applications usually work.