The High Court of Orissa has 46 District Judge posts to fill, and only judges who are already serving can apply. The route is a Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE), which is an exam held only among the court’s own officers, so outside lawyers cannot sit it. Pay starts at Rs 1,44,840 a month, and the online form is open from 09.11.2026 (10:00 AM) to 25.11.2026 (11:59 PM).
Not announced yet. The court will publish them on its website.
Application Fee
The notification does not mention any application fee.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Who Can Apply
Serving judicial officers only. The notification invites “eligible Judicial Officers”.
Service as Civil Judge (Senior Division)
At least 3 years, as on 01.04.2026
Combined Service
At least 7 years as Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Civil Judge (Senior Division) together, as on 01.04.2026
How Senior Division Service Is Counted
From the date the promotion to that rank was notified
How Junior Division Service Is Counted
From the date you entered judicial service as Civil Judge (Junior Division)
Age Limit
Not specified in notification
Application Restriction
Online mode only. Applications sent any other way are rejected.
In short: Civil Judge (Senior Division) is the rank above the entry-level Civil Judge (Junior Division). You need 3 years in the Senior Division rank, and your total time in both ranks must reach 7 years, counted up to 01.04.2026 and not up to today.
Who Should Apply
This is only for judges already in service. Lawyers and other outside candidates cannot apply.
Your service is counted up to 01.04.2026. If you complete 3 years in the Senior Division after that date, you do not qualify this time.
Your rank depends on more than the exam. Your service reports for the last five years, your case disposal rate and your judgments all carry marks.
Start collecting your judgments now. You must send 2 judgments of your choice and a list of 10 contested judgments you delivered as Civil Judge (Senior Division), giving court name, case number, parties and date of delivery.
Selection Process
Stage
Details
1. Written Examination
Two papers of 75 marks each, 2 hours per paper. The subjects are in the exam pattern below.
2. Viva-Voce (Interview)
30 marks. You are called only if you score at least 50% in both papers together and at least 45% in each paper.
3. Service Reports (CCR / PAR / ACR)
20 marks. These are the yearly reports on your work for the 5 years just before the exam year.
4. Disposal Rate
10 marks. This is judged on how many cases you disposed of in the preceding 5 years.
5. Quality of Judgments
20 marks. You send 2 judgments of your choice plus a list of 10 contested ones. The court adds 3 from your list at random, so 5 are marked.
6. Merit List and Final Selection
Ranked on the total marks from all the parts above. You must score at least 40% in the viva-voce to be selected.
7. Training and Probation
Selected officers go through training under Rule 30-A and serve a probation period (a trial period) under Rule 33 of the O.S.J.S. and O.J.S. Rules, 2007.
In short: the written exam is only part of your result. The marks add up to 230 (150 written, 30 viva-voce, 20 service reports, 10 disposal rate, 20 judgments), so your work record counts as much as the exam. You also need 40% in the viva-voce whatever your other marks are.
Written Exam Pattern
Paper
Subjects
Marks
Paper 1
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
25
Paper 1
Personal Laws
25
Paper 1
Transfer of Property Act, Specific Relief Act, Limitation Act
25 (whole group)
Paper 1
Law of Contract, Law relating to Motor Accident and Claims
—
Paper 1
Odisha Consolidation of Holding and Prevention of Fragmentation of Land Act
—
Paper 1
Odisha Estate Abolition Act, Odisha Land Reforms Act
—
Paper 1
Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Commercial Courts Act, 2015
—
Paper 2
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
20
Paper 2
Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
20
Paper 2
Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
20
Paper 2
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
15 (whole group)
Paper 2
Prevention of Corruption Act, Essential Commodities Act
—
Paper 2
Environment Protection Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
—
Paper 2
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
—
Paper 2
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, POCSO Act, 2012
—
Paper 2
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
—
A dash means the row belongs to the group above it and shares that group’s marks. Each paper totals 75 marks.
Salary and Benefits
Component
Detail
Pay Scale
Rs 1,44,840 – 1,94,660 a month
Allowances
Usual DA (dearness allowance, a cost-of-living top-up) and other allowances as admissible from time to time
How to Apply
Read the full advertisement and the “Instructions to Candidates and Process Flow for Filling Up of Online Application Form” on the court website before you start.
Go to orissahighcourt.nic.in and open Recruitment Corner, then Examination Portal, then the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for District Judge, 2026.
Log in and fill in the form. Upload your recent passport-size colour photograph and your full signature.
Submit the form between 10:00 AM on 09.11.2026 and 11:59 PM on 25.11.2026. The notification says to apply under intimation to your Controlling Authority, so keep your reporting office informed.
Keep the acknowledgement number. If you submit more than once, only your latest application is considered.
Note: forms that are incomplete, wrong, or sent in any way other than the online form are rejected without any reason being given.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
The court asks for a recent passport-size colour photograph and a full signature on a white background. If the portal turns a file down for its size, resize it to the exact pixels and KB the form shows, then upload it again.
Do not apply in any way except the online form. Any other mode is rejected.
Do not leave the form half-filled. Incomplete or wrong forms are rejected without a reason.
Do not wait for the last day. The court itself advises applying well in advance to avoid last-minute rush.
Do not skip any stage. If you do not attend any stage of the exam, your candidature is rejected.
Do not ask anyone to put in a word for you. Canvassing in any form is a disqualification.
Remember that every stage is provisional. If your service turns out not to meet the conditions, you can be rejected at any point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Orissa High Court District Judge LDCE 2026?
Only serving judicial officers who have 3 years as Civil Judge (Senior Division) and 7 years of combined service in the Junior and Senior Division, counted up to 01.04.2026.
How many vacancies are there?
There are 46 vacancies, and the notification gives no category-wise breakup.
What is the last date to apply?
The last date is 25.11.2026 up to 11:59 PM, and the form opens on 09.11.2026 at 10:00 AM.
Where do I apply?
Apply online on the court website, orissahighcourt.nic.in, under Recruitment Corner and then Examination Portal.
What is the pay for a District Judge here?
The pay is Rs 1,44,840 to Rs 1,94,660 a month, plus DA and other allowances.
How many written papers are there?
There are two papers of 75 marks each, and each paper is 2 hours long.
What marks do I need to be called for the viva-voce?
You need at least 50% in both papers together and at least 45% in each paper.
Who can I contact if I have trouble with the online form?
Call the court’s Recruitment Cell on 9437498780 or write to ohcrecruitment1948@gmail.com on working days between 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM, while the form is open.
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.
