The High Court of Orissa is hiring 38 District Judges, and 13 of those posts are kept for women. Online applications open at 10:00 AM on 09.11.2026 and close at 11:59 PM on 25.11.2026. This is direct recruitment, which means the posts are filled through an open exam and interview, not by promotion. You need a law degree, seven years of experience as an advocate or judicial officer, and the ability to read, write and speak Odia.
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Recruitment Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Post Name | District Judge (direct recruitment) |
| Organization | High Court of Orissa, Cuttack |
| Notification / Advertisement No. | Advertisement No. 03 of 2026 (dated 04.11.2026) |
| Location | Odisha |
| Total Vacancies | 38 (Unreserved 19, SEBC 4, SC 6, ST 9; 13 posts for women) |
| Qualification | Law degree and 7 years as advocate or judicial officer |
| Age Limit | 35 to 45 years as on date of application Check your age eligibility → |
| Selection Process | Written exam → Interview → Merit list → Medical test |
| Pay Scale | Rs 1,44,840 – 1,94,660 plus DA and other allowances |
| How to Apply | Apply online only at orissahighcourt.nic.in |
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Official Website / Apply Online | High Court of Orissa website |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 04.11.2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 09.11.2026, 10:00 AM |
| Online Application Ends | 25.11.2026, 11:59 PM |
| Written Exam Date | Not announced yet. It will be put on the court website |
| E-Admit Card | To be downloaded from the court website. Date not announced |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unreserved, SEBC and all other candidates | Rs 750 |
| SC, ST and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | Nil (exempt, at the candidate’s option) |
| Payment Mode | Net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. The fee is non-refundable |
Vacancy Details
| Category | Total Posts | Posts for Women |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 19 | 7 |
| SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) | 4 | 1 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 6 | 2 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 9 | 3 |
| Total | 38 | 13 |
Out of these 38 posts, 3 are kept for persons with benchmark disabilities who have a physical disability (cerebral palsy is not included). This is called horizontal reservation, which means the 3 posts are counted inside the categories above. If not enough women are available in a category, men of that category fill the seats. The court can change the number of vacancies or cancel the recruitment at any stage.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Graduate in Law from a recognised university or an institution recognised by the Government |
| Experience (any one) | 7 years of continuous practice as an advocate on the date of application |
| Experience (any one) | Previous judicial service plus advocate practice, together at least 7 years |
| Experience (any one) | Judicial officer who first completed 7 years of continuous practice as an advocate |
| Experience (any one) | Judicial officer with at least 7 years as advocate and judicial officer combined |
| Age Limit | 35 to 45 years as on the date of application Check your age eligibility → |
| Odia Language | Must speak, read and write Odia fluently and have passed an Odia test of Middle School standard |
| Citizenship | Indian citizen |
| Public Prosecutors | Can apply if they meet the qualification, experience and age rules. They must inform their office in writing and get a No Objection Certificate |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation in Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| All candidates (recruitment year 2026) | 1 year, because no District Judge vacancies were notified for 2025 |
| SC, ST, SEBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and Women | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 years |
| PwBD who are also SC, ST or SEBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | Both benefits can be added together |
| Candidate in more than one category | Only one benefit, whichever is best for the candidate |
So the basic age band is 35 to 45, and everyone gets one extra year this time. The notification does not say whether that extra year adds to the 5-year or 10-year relaxation, so check with the court before you count on that sum.
Who Should Apply
- This is a senior judicial post. You need 7 years at the Bar or as a judicial officer, and the minimum age is 35, so it is not meant for fresh law graduates.
- No District Judge vacancies were notified for 2025, so this notice covers the 2026 batch and gives every candidate one extra year on the upper age limit.
- Odia is a must. You need an Odia pass certificate, and one written paper asks you to translate between Odia and English, so skip this one if you cannot read and write Odia.
- Start your practice certificate early. It must be signed by the Principal Judicial Officer of your court, or by an advocate with at least 10 years of standing and endorsed by the court officer, and this can take time.
- If you are a Public Prosecutor, tell your head of office in writing and get a No Objection Certificate before you apply.
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Written Exam | Paper 1 and Paper 2, 100 marks each, 2 hours each. Both count towards your rank |
| 2. Qualifying English Paper | Paper 3, 100 marks, 2 hours. You need at least 45% to pass, but the marks are not added to your rank |
| 3. Interview | 30 marks. Candidates are called in the ratio 1:10 if they score 45% in each written paper and 50% overall |
| Interview cut-off for PwBD | At least 40% in each paper and 45% overall |
| 4. Merit List | Made from Paper 1, Paper 2 and interview marks. You need at least 40% in the interview |
| 5. Medical Test | Selected candidates must be physically fit and appear before the State Medical Board |
| 6. Training and Probation | Training under Rule 30-A, then probation under Rule 33 of the O.S.J.S and O.J.S Rules 2007 |
In short, you sit two law papers and a qualifying English paper, then an interview. Only the two law papers and the interview decide your rank. English just has to be cleared.
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 | 30 |
| Paper 1 | Personal Laws | 30 |
| Paper 1 | Transfer of Property, Specific Relief, Limitation, Contract, Odisha land laws, Motor Accident Claims, Arbitration, Commercial Courts | 40 |
| Paper 2 | Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | 30 |
| Paper 2 | Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 30 |
| Paper 2 | Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | 30 |
| Paper 2 | NDPS, Food Safety, Prevention of Corruption, Essential Commodities, Environment, Water Pollution, SC/ST Atrocities, Domestic Violence, POCSO and Juvenile Justice Acts | 10 |
| Paper 3 (qualifying) | Odia to English translation (10 lines) | 10 |
| Paper 3 (qualifying) | English to Odia translation (10 lines) | 10 |
| Paper 3 (qualifying) | Short essay of about 150 words | 30 |
| Paper 3 (qualifying) | Précis writing of 300 words | 30 |
| Paper 3 (qualifying) | One passage of up to 500 words with 5 questions | 20 |
Salary and Benefits
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Scale | Rs 1,44,840 – 1,94,660 |
| Allowances | Usual DA and other allowances, as admissible from time to time |
DA, or dearness allowance, is a cost-of-living top-up paid on top of the base pay. The notification does not list the other allowances.
How to Apply
- Go to www.orissahighcourt.nic.in and open Recruitment Corner, then Examination Portal.
- Choose Direct Recruitment to the posts in the cadre of District Judge, 2026.
- Read the advertisement and the Instructions to Candidates for Filling up of Online Application Form first.
- Fill in the form, pick your category correctly, upload your documents and pay the Rs 750 fee online (SC, ST and PwBD candidates can skip the fee).
- Submit well before 25.11.2026 and save your acknowledgement number.
Note: Only online applications are accepted. Incomplete or incorrect applications are rejected without any reply. For help, call 9437498780 or write to ohcrecruitment1948@gmail.com on working days between 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM, while applications are open.
Documents Required
| Document | Format / Notes |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Clear scanned copy |
| Matriculation / High School Certificate | Shows your name and date of birth. Only these are accepted |
| Odia Pass Certificate | From the competent authority, Middle School standard |
| Bachelor’s Degree in Law | Scanned copy |
| Certificate of Legal Practice (Annexure-I) | Shows years of practice at the Bar, if applicable |
| Certificate of Judicial Service (Annexure-II) | Shows years served as judicial officer. Send both annexures if you have both kinds of experience |
| Public Prosecutor Appointment Letter | With the date of joining, if applicable |
| Passport Size Colour Photograph | Recent, clearly visible and in the right direction Resize your photo and signature → |
| Full Signature | Clear, in the right direction, on a white background |
| SC / ST / SEBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Certificate | From the competent authority. See the mistakes list below |
| Disability Certificate | Medical certificate from the competent Medical Board, for PwBD candidates |
| Gazette Notification for Change of Name | Only if your name has changed since matriculation |
| No Objection Certificate (NOC) | For government servants, or an undertaking to that effect |
Note: The notification lists these documents but does not give size or format limits for the uploads.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply Online / Official Website | High Court of Orissa |
| Download Official Notification (PDF) | Advertisement No. 03 of 2026 |
| Join Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Your name and date of birth must match your Matriculation certificate. If your name is spelled differently on any certificate, you need a newspaper notice and an Odisha Gazette notification, or the form is rejected without reply.
- An SEBC certificate must not be more than 3 years old on 25.11.2026, and an OBC certificate will not be accepted in its place.
- Women from SC, ST or SEBC must send a caste certificate that says Daughter of. A certificate that says Wife of is not accepted.
- Send only one application. If you send more than one, only the latest one with the higher acknowledgement number is counted.
- At document verification, carry original certificates, your Aadhaar card, the same photograph you uploaded and self-attested copies. Without them you are barred from the interview.
- Do not wait for the last day. The court itself advises applying well in advance to avoid the last minute rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for Orissa High Court District Judge 2026?
Online applications run from 10:00 AM on 09.11.2026 to 11:59 PM on 25.11.2026.
How many District Judge posts are vacant?
There are 38 posts: 19 Unreserved, 4 SEBC, 6 SC and 9 ST, and 13 of them are for women.
What qualification and experience do I need?
You need a law degree and 7 years as an advocate, a judicial officer, or both added together.
What is the age limit?
You must be between 35 and 45 years old on the date of application, and everyone gets 1 extra year this time.
What is the application fee?
The fee is Rs 750, paid online, and SC, ST and PwBD candidates do not have to pay.
How are candidates selected?
You sit two law papers and a qualifying English paper, then an interview, and the merit list uses the two law papers and the interview.
What is the pay for a District Judge here?
The pay scale is Rs 1,44,840 to Rs 1,94,660, with DA and other allowances on top.
Do I need to know Odia?
Yes, you must speak, read and write Odia and must have passed an Odia test of Middle School standard.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
