Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 08 Posts

Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026 Quick Highlights

• Organization: High Court of Judicature at Patna
• Notice No: BSJS/1/2026
• Post Name: District Judge (Entry Level), Direct from Bar
• Total Vacancies: 08
• Application Mode: Online
• Last Date to Apply: 15 May 2026 (till 23:59 hours)

Important Dates

Application Fee

Fee must be paid online via the Court's official website. Applications without prescribed fee will not be considered. Fee once paid is non-refundable.

Vacancy Details

35% horizontal reservation is applicable for women who are permanent residents/natives of Bihar across all categories. 1% horizontal reservation is provided for orthopedically disabled candidates who are permanent residents/natives of Bihar.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification / Professional Eligibility

• Applicant must have completed 7 years or more of continuous practice as an Advocate/Pleader (including Government Pleaders and Public Prosecutors) on the date of application and must give a declaration of appearance in at least 24 cases per year in the last three years (2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25).
• Judicial Officers who have already completed 7 or more years of continuous practice as an Advocate/Pleader before being recruited in the subordinate judicial service are also eligible.
• A person who has been or is in judicial service and has a combined experience of 7 years or more as an Advocate or a Judicial Officer in continuity on the date of application is also eligible under Article 233 of the Constitution.
• Prosecution Officers/Assistant Prosecution Officers are treated as Advocates and are eligible as per the Supreme Court judgment in Civil Appeal No. 561 of 2013.

Age Limit

• Minimum Age: 35 years
• Maximum Age: Below 50 years
• Age will be calculated as on the date of application.

Pay Scale

• Revised Pay Scale: Rs. 144840–194660/- (Level: J-5)
• Pre-revised Pay Scale: Rs. 51550-1230-58930-1380-63070/-
• Selected candidates shall draw pay in the time scale sanctioned for District Judge (Entry Level) along with all other admissible allowances.

Selection Process

• Screening Test (if held) — Objective type, 100 questions, 300 marks (3 marks per correct answer, 1 mark deducted per wrong answer)
• Main Written Test — Descriptive/Theory papers on prescribed law subjects
• Viva-Voce (Interview)

Examination Structure

Qualifying Marks

• Minimum 45% marks required in each theory paper to qualify for Viva-Voce.
• Minimum 30% marks required in Viva-Voce/Interview.
• Minimum 50% aggregate marks required in Written Test and Viva-Voce combined to qualify for appointment.
• Reserved category candidates (including women and orthopedically disabled): 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks in theory papers; 45% aggregate (Written + Viva-Voce) is qualifying, provided 30% is secured in the interview.

Screening Test Subjects

• Law (covering major enactments including Constitution of India, CPC 1908, BNSS 2023, BNS 2023, Indian Contract Act, Transfer of Property Act, Negotiable Instruments Act, Arbitration and Conciliation Act, Personal Laws, and more)
• English Language
• General Knowledge
• Computer Knowledge

Main Written Test Subjects

• Constitution of India
• Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
• Limitation Act, 1963
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS)
• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
• Indian Contract Act, 1872
• Sale of Goods Act, 1930
• Indian Partnership Act, 1932
• Specific Relief Act, 1963
• Transfer of Property Act, 1882
• Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996
• Personal Laws (Hindu, Muslim, and Christian)
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
• Family Courts Act, 1984
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
• Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS)

How to Apply for District Judge (Entry Level) Direct from Bar Exam-2026

1. Visit the official website of Patna High Court at www.patnahighcourt.gov.in and click on the "Recruitments" column on the left-hand side menu.
2. Fill in all required details carefully in the online application form in English language only. Ensure that name, date of birth, and other particulars match your certificates and marksheets.
3. Click the "SUBMIT" button after verifying all details. A unique Registration Number will be generated. Note it down carefully.
4. Pay the application fee online by following the payment link on the Court's website. Note down the Bank Reference Number generated after successful payment.
5. After 24 hours of successful payment, log in again using your Registration Number and date of birth to upload your scanned passport-size photograph (JPEG/JPG, up to 40 KB, 200x230 pixels), signature (JPEG/JPG, up to 10 KB, 140x60 pixels), and handwritten declaration (JPEG/JPG, up to 50 KB).
6. Take a printout of the finally submitted online application form and keep it safely. It will be required when called after qualifying the Written Test.

Documents Required After Written Test

• Printout of online application form
• Certificate of permanent resident of Bihar (for reservation claimants)
• Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate for BC/EBC candidates
• Caste Certificate for SC/ST candidates
• EWS Certificate (Income and Assets Certificate) for EWS candidates — valid for Financial Year 2025-26
• Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) certificate issued by Medical Board (if applicable)
• Self-attested copies of educational qualification marksheets and certificates
• Self-attested copy of Bar Council Enrolment Certificate
• Original Certificate from Principal District and Sessions Judge/Registrar General/Registrar of High Court/Secretary General of Supreme Court (as Annexure I, II, or III) regarding character and length of actual practice
• Declaration of net income for last three financial years (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)
• Declaration regarding appearance in 24 cases per year for the last three years (if applicable)
• No Objection Certificate from employer (if currently employed)

Admit Card

Candidates will be required to download their Admit Card from the official website www.patnahighcourt.gov.in by entering their Registration Number and date of birth. Candidates must bring the Admit Card along with a valid original photo identity proof (Voter ID, PAN Card, Bar Council ID, Driving License, Passport, or Aadhaar Card) to the examination centre. No Admit Card will be sent by post or any other mode. Admit Cards will not be accepted in the form of a mobile phone image at the exam centre.

Result and Merit List

The result of the competitive examination will be declared by uploading it on the official website of Patna High Court. No candidate will be informed about the result individually. After one year from the date of declaration of the Final Result/Select List, all examination materials including answer booklets and application forms will be destroyed, except the final result, tabulation chart, and application forms of successful candidates.

Official Source

Candidates can check the official notification PDF and apply online on the official website of the High Court of Judicature at Patna.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the last date to apply for Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 15 May 2026 till 23:59 hours. The link for uploading photograph, signature, and declaration will remain available till 22 May 2026 till 23:59 hours.

Q2: How many vacancies are there in Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
A total of 08 vacancies have been notified for the post of District Judge (Entry Level), Direct from Bar Exam-2026. This includes current vacancies as well as backlog vacancies across various categories.

Q3: What is the application fee for Patna High Court District Judge Exam 2026?
The application fee is Rs. 1500/- for General, OBC, and EWS candidates. SC/ST and Orthopedically Handicapped candidates from Bihar are required to pay Rs. 750/-. Fee must be paid online and is non-refundable.

Q4: What is the eligibility criteria for Patna High Court District Judge Recruitment 2026?
An applicant must have completed at least 7 years of continuous practice as an Advocate/Pleader and must be between 35 and below 50 years of age on the date of application. Declaration of appearance in at least 24 cases per year in the last three years is also required for eligible Advocates.

Q5: What is the selection process for Patna High Court District Judge Direct from Bar Exam 2026?
The selection process consists of a Screening Test (if held for shortlisting), a Main Written Test covering prescribed law subjects, and a Viva-Voce (Interview). The ratio of marks for theory papers and viva-voce is 80% and 20% respectively.