The High Court of Delhi has released the admit card for the Delhi Higher Judicial Service (DHJS) Mains Examination (Written) 2026. The Mains exam was first scheduled for 12 and 13 September 2026. A notice dated 31 August 2026 postponed it to 10 and 11 October 2026 because of traffic restrictions during the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Candidates who qualified the Preliminary exam held on 26 July 2026 can now download their Mains admit card from the High Court's online exam portal.
DHJS is the direct recruitment route for practising advocates and judicial officers to become District Judges (Entry Level) in Delhi. This year there are 27 vacancies, and the pay scale is J-5, ₹1,44,840–1,94,660. The details below come from the official advertisement dated 1 July 2026 and the postponement notice.
DHJS 2026 — Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | High Court of Delhi, New Delhi |
| Service | Delhi Higher Judicial Service (direct recruitment) |
| Vacancies | 27 (24 existing + 3 anticipated till 30 June 2027) |
| Pay scale | J-5: ₹1,44,840 – ₹1,94,660 |
| Selection | Preliminary (objective) → Mains (written) → Viva-voce |
| Mains exam | 10 and 11 October 2026 (postponed) |
| Official website | delhihighcourt.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opened | 1 July 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last date for application and fee | 15 July 2026, 5:30 PM |
| Preliminary exam (objective) | 26 July 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Mains exam — original dates | 12 – 13 September 2026 (postponed) |
| Mains exam — revised dates | 10 – 11 October 2026 |
| Mains admit card | Available now on the online portal |
| Viva-voce | After the Mains result |
How to Download the DHJS Mains Admit Card
- Open the DHJS 2026 Mains admit card page. The link is in the Important Links table below, and you can also reach it from the recruitment section of delhihighcourt.nic.in.
- Enter any two of these three details: your registered email, your date of birth, or your online registration number.
- Submit the form. Check your name, roll number, photo, exam venue and reporting time on the admit card.
- Print the admit card for both days of the Mains exam. If you find a mistake, contact the High Court's examination branch before the exam.
Read the instructions printed on the admit card carefully. They set out the reporting time, items that are allowed and not allowed, and the ID you must carry, and they override anything said here.
Vacancy Details
| Category | Existing | Anticipated | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 14 | 3 | 17 |
| SC | 5 | – | 5 |
| ST | 5 | – | 5 |
| Total | 24 | 3 | 27 |
Of these, 3 SC and 4 ST vacancies are backlog vacancies. Three posts are reserved for PwD candidates with a benchmark disability of 40% or more:
- 1 for blindness and low vision
- 1 for one arm, one leg, both legs, leprosy cured, dwarfism or acid attack victim
- 1 for specific learning disability or multiple disabilities
Two of the three PwD vacancies are carried-forward backlog vacancies. The number of vacancies may change, including because of the Supreme Court judgment dated 11 March 2026 in Dheeraj Mor v. High Court of Delhi.
Eligibility
- Nationality: citizen of India.
- Advocates: must have been practising continuously for at least 7 years as on 15 July 2026.
- Judicial officers: must have completed 7 years at the Bar before joining the subordinate judicial service, or have 7 years' combined experience as a judicial officer and an advocate as on 15 July 2026.
- Age: at least 35 years and below 45 years on 15 July 2026.
DHJS Mains 2026 — Exam Pattern
The Mains (written) exam has four descriptive papers. All answers are written in English unless the syllabus says otherwise. Candidates bring their own pen, pencil and ink. No notes or loose sheets are allowed.
| Paper | Subjects | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I — General Knowledge & Language | Current affairs and power of expression in English. Marks are deducted for poor grammar and wrong usage. | 150 | 2 hours |
| Paper II — Law I | Constitution of India; CPC 1908; Indian Evidence Act 1872 / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023; Limitation Act; Registration Act; Commercial Courts Act; Court Fees Act; Trade Marks, Copyright, Patents and Designs Acts | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper III — Law II | Transfer of Property; Contract; Sale of Goods; Partnership; Specific Relief; Arbitration; personal laws (Succession, Hindu Marriage, Special Marriage, Hindu Adoptions & Maintenance, Guardians & Wards, Muslim Women Acts, Divorce Act); DRT; SARFAESI; Motor Vehicles; labour laws (Industrial Disputes, Payment of Wages, Employee's Compensation, Minimum Wages, Factories) | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV — Law III | IPC / Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023; CrPC / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023; Evidence Act / BSA 2023; Prevention of Corruption; POCSO; Juvenile Justice; IT Act; Negotiable Instruments; PMLA; Domestic Violence Act; Dowry Prohibition Act | 200 | 3 hours |
| Total (Mains) | 750 | ||
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Stage | General | SC / ST / eligible PwD |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary (150 MCQs, 2 hours, 0.25 negative) | 50% | 45% |
| Mains — each paper | 45% | 40% |
| Mains — aggregate | 50% | 45% |
| Viva-voce (250 marks) | 50% | 45% |
- Prelims is only a screening test. Its marks are not counted in the final merit. Up to 20 times the vacancies in each category were admitted to the Mains.
- Viva-voce: up to 3 times the vacancies in each category are called. Anyone tied with the last shortlisted candidate is also called.
- Final merit = Mains (750) + Viva-voce (250). If two candidates have the same marks, the one with earlier Bar Council enrolment ranks higher, and after that the older candidate.
Exam Day: ID and Rules
- Bring your admit card and an original, valid photo ID: Voter ID, Passport, Bar Association or government ID card, Aadhaar or PAN. A photo of an ID on your mobile phone is not accepted.
- Bring your own pen, pencil and ink. Notes and loose sheets are not allowed. Canvassing or unfair means leads to disqualification.
- PwD candidates using a scribe or compensatory time (20 minutes per hour) must submit the original certificate of writing limitation and a notarised affidavit (on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper) to the Joint Registrar (Examination-Judicial) at least 3 days before the exam.
After the Mains: Documents to Send Within 5 Days
Candidates who pass the Mains must send one set of self-attested copies to the Joint Registrar [Examination (Judicial)], High Court of Delhi, within 5 days of the result, with a covering letter giving their roll number and application number. The set must include:
- The Class 10 certificate as proof of age, and Class 10 and 12 marksheets and pass certificates
- LL.B. degree and all marksheets
- Advocate licence and Bar Council enrolment, and the AIBE pass certificate where applicable
- An original Bar Council certificate of practice period, countersigned by the High Court or District Judge
- Order sheets or judgments: at least 2 per year for the 7 years before the last date of application, and at least 2 from that date to now
- Income tax return acknowledgements, computations and assessment orders for the years given in the form
- For employed candidates or judicial officers: employer certificates and an original No Objection Certificate
- SC/ST and disability certificates in original, with self-attested copies
Application Fee (closed)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹2,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD (40% or more) | ₹500 |
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Mains admit card (DHJS 2026) | Download admit card |
| Official website (notices, results) | delhihighcourt.nic.in |
| Other judiciary and court jobs | Judiciary updates |
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