The High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, has released Advertisement Notice No. DJ-ADVT./2026(1) dated 5 August 2026, inviting Online Recruitment Applications for 388 posts across six categories in the District Judiciary establishment — spanning Court Manager, Clerk, Stenographer, Driver, Process Server, and Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari roles. Applications opened on 10 August 2026.
1. Recruitment Overview
This notification covers both clear-cut (currently vacant) and anticipated (expected to fall vacant through retirement/promotion) posts, filled under three distinct employment modes — Regular, Contract, and Daily Wages — depending on the post. The High Court has structured this drive under its own service rules, “The Himachal Pradesh District Judiciary Staff (Recruitment, Promotion, Control, Conduct, Discipline and Other Conditions of Service) Rules, 2022,” which govern everything from eligibility to the exact test format for each post.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla |
| Advertisement No. | DJ-ADVT./2026(1) |
| Notification Date | 5 August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 388 |
| Posts Covered | Court Manager, Clerk, Stenographer Grade-III, Driver, Process Server, Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari |
| Employment Modes | Regular, Contract, Daily Wages (varies by post) |
| Application Portal | www.hphcrecruitment.in |
| Official Website | highcourt.hp.gov.in |
A notable structural feature here: several posts split vacancies across Regular and Contract/Daily Wages modes simultaneously — meaning a candidate applying for, say, the Clerk post is actually competing for a mix of 84 regular and 57 contract seats under one combined application, not two separate drives.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification/Advertisement Date | 5 August 2026 |
| Opening Date for Online Application | 10 August 2026 |
| Closing Date for Online Application & Fee Payment | 10 September 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Age Reckoning Date | 1 January 2026 |
With exactly one month between opening and closing, and a same-deadline cutoff for both form submission and fee payment, candidates should treat 10 September as a single hard stop for the entire process — there’s no grace window mentioned for late fee payment after the form closes.
3. Vacancy Details
The full 388-post breakup, by post and employment mode:
| Post | Group | Regular | Contract | Daily Wages | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court Manager | B | 5 | – | – | 5 |
| Clerk | C | 84 | 57 | – | 141 |
| Stenographer Grade-III | C | 48 | 31 | – | 79 |
| Driver | C | 4 | – | 5 | 9 |
| Process Server | D | 61 | 1 | 3 | 65 |
| Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari | D | 69 | – | 20 | 89 |
| Grand Total | 271 | 89 | 28 | 388 |
Category-wise breakup for the largest post (Clerk – Regular, 84 posts):
| Category | Clear-cut | Anticipated | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR | 28 | 1 | 29 |
| SC | 17 | 2 | 19 |
| ST | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| OBC | 16 | 1 | 17 |
| EWS | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| PH | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 79 | 5 | 84 |
Clerk and Peon-category posts together account for nearly 60% of all vacancies in this notification — by far the two widest openings for candidates without a specialised skill requirement like typing speed or stenography.
Important caveat directly from the High Court: The number of vacancies shown in the notification “may increase or decrease in future,” and district/division-wise numbers may vary due to administrative reasons — so treat these figures as the current official count, not a permanently fixed one. Anticipated vacancies specifically will only be filled if they actually materialise through retirement or promotion; candidates cannot claim appointment against them as a right.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Qualification, pay level, and test requirements differ substantially by post — this is not a one-size-fits-all notification.
| Post | Qualification | Pay Level |
|---|---|---|
| Court Manager | Graduation + MBA from a UGC-recognised institution, with 3 years’ experience in Process/IT Systems/HR/Financial Management | Level-16 (₹48,700–1,54,300) |
| Clerk | Graduation + basic computer knowledge (operating Windows/Linux, typing, printing) | Level-3 (₹20,200–64,000) |
| Stenographer Grade-III | Graduation degree | Level-6 (₹25,600–81,200) |
| Driver | Matriculation + valid LMV driving licence held for at least 3 years + 3 years’ driving experience | Level-5 (₹21,300–67,800) |
| Process Server | 10+2 (Class 12) pass | Level-1 (₹18,000–56,900) |
| Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari | 10+2 (Class 12) pass | Level-1 (₹18,000–56,900) |
Age Limit (as on 1 January 2026)
| Category | Age (all posts except Court Manager) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) and EWS | 18 to 45 years |
| Reserved categories of HP (SC/ST/OBC/PH), where post is reserved | 18 to 50 years* |
| HP Government employees | 18 to 50 years* |
*A 5-year relaxation in upper age limit applies only to bonafide SC/ST/OBC candidates of HP and HP persons with benchmark disabilities, when the specific post is reserved for that category.
Court Manager age limit is separate: 25 to 35 years, regardless of category.
Himachal domicile/local knowledge requirement: Candidates must have knowledge of the customs and dialects of Himachal Pradesh and suitability for appointment under the state’s specific conditions. For Group-C posts, this means having passed Matriculation, 10+2, or Graduation from a school/institution within Himachal Pradesh; for Group-D posts, passing Middle school, Matriculation, or 10+2 within the state. Bonafide Himachalis are exempt from this specific condition.
Certificate ownership rule: Criteria certificates, category certificates, and educational certificates used for awarding marks must be issued in the candidate’s own name — certificates issued in a parent’s name are not accepted (except the BPL Certificate).
5. Selection Process
Each post carries its own distinct selection format — there’s no single common exam covering all six categories.
| Post | Selection Stages |
|---|---|
| Court Manager | Written Test & Viva-voce (Phase-I & II, per Schedule-III Part 3 of R&P Rules 2022) |
| Clerk | Screening Test → Written Test → Typing Test (30 WPM English / 25 WPM Hindi on Kruti Dev-10 font) → Document Verification |
| Stenographer Grade-III | Screening Test → Stenography Test (80 WPM English, transcription within 5x dictation time) → Typing Test (40 WPM English / 30 WPM Hindi) |
| Driver | Screening Test → Driving Proficiency Test → Document Verification |
| Process Server | Screening Test → Written Test & Evaluation |
| Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari | Shortlisting (1:3 ratio) based on 10+2 marks → Document Verification/Evaluation |
Stenographer accuracy rule: Only up to 10% mistakes are permitted in both the transcription of dictated matter and the typed matter — candidates exceeding 10% errors in either are declared unqualified, regardless of speed achieved.
Peon/Orderly-category merit formula: Final merit combines two components — your 10+2 percentage (converted out of 85 marks; e.g., 50% in 10+2 becomes 42.5 marks) plus up to 15 marks for document evaluation, as per Schedule-III Part-11 of the R&P Rules, 2022.
Result declaration order: Results for Regular-mode vacancies are declared first; results for Contract and Daily Wages modes follow only after regular vacancies are filled. Once a final result is declared under any one mode, candidates cannot switch to a different mode of appointment.
6. Salary & Pay Structure
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Range (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Court Manager | Level-16 | 48,700 – 1,54,300 |
| Clerk (Regular) | Level-3 | 20,200 – 64,000 |
| Stenographer Grade-III (Regular) | Level-6 | 25,600 – 81,200 |
| Driver (Regular) | Level-5 | 21,300 – 67,800 |
| Process Server | Level-1 | 18,000 – 56,900 |
| Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari | Level-1 | 18,000 – 56,900 |
Important distinction on pay: The above pay levels apply only to Regular posts. Candidates selected under Contract or Daily Wages modes receive wages/remuneration as separately fixed by the Government of Himachal Pradesh from time to time — this is not the same as the regular pay-matrix salary shown above.
7. Application Fee
| Category | Fee (Including GST) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | ₹450 |
| Reserved categories of HP (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PH) | ₹300 |
Fee must be paid online only; once paid, it is non-refundable under any circumstances. Applications submitted without completing fee payment do not confer any right to appear in the test.
8. How to Apply
- Visit the official recruitment portal: www.hphcrecruitment.in/login, or access it via the High Court website, highcourt.hp.gov.in.
- Register with your basic details to create a login.
- Fill in the Online Recruitment Application (ORA) form with personal, educational, and category details.
- Upload your photograph, signature, and required documents in the specified format and size (see below).
- Pay the applicable application fee online.
- Preview your submitted application carefully — applications cannot be withdrawn or modified once submitted, though they can be cancelled without fee refund.
- Take a printout/screenshot of your submitted application for your own records.
Document upload specifications:
| Document | Format & Size |
|---|---|
| Photograph | JPG/JPEG/PNG, 20–50 KB, white background |
| Signature | JPG/JPEG/PNG, 10–20 KB, white background |
| Matric Certificate (age proof) | JPG/JPEG/PNG, 100–500 KB |
| ID Proof (Aadhaar/DL/Passport) | JPG/JPEG/PNG, 100–500 KB |
| Other certificates/documents | PDF only, 100 KB–2 MB |
Important instructions:
- Applications are accepted online only — even candidates sponsored through Employment Exchanges must apply online themselves, or they will not be considered eligible.
- Only one application per post is needed — candidates should not apply separately for Regular, Contract, and Daily Wages modes of the same post.
- Candidates already in government or semi-government service must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) through proper channel within 15 days of the application closing date (not required for Job Trainee/contract/casual/adhoc/daily-wage/work-charged employees).
- All communication happens only via SMS and Email to the mobile number and email ID registered at the time of application — no separate call letters are sent through any other mode.
- Candidates applying for multiple posts should select the same district as their examination centre preference, since tests for different posts may be held on the same day in morning and evening sessions.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many total vacancies are there? | 388 posts across Court Manager, Clerk, Stenographer Grade-III, Driver, Process Server, and Peon/Orderly/Chowkidar/Safai Karamchari. |
| What is the last date to apply? | 10 September 2026, 11:59 PM, for both application submission and fee payment. |
| What is the qualification for Clerk posts? | Graduation from a recognised university, with basic computer knowledge (Windows/Linux, typing, printing). |
| What is the age limit? | 18 to 45 years for UR/EWS; 18 to 50 years for reserved HP categories and HP government employees, as on 1 January 2026 (except Court Manager: 25–35 years). |
| What is the application fee? | ₹450 for Unreserved candidates; ₹300 for reserved categories of HP (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PH). |
| Is there a typing test for Clerk posts? | Yes — 30 WPM in English and 25 WPM in Hindi (Kruti Dev-10 font), after qualifying the Screening Test. |
| What speed is required for Stenographer posts? | 80 WPM stenography in English, plus a 40 WPM English / 30 WPM Hindi typing test, with a maximum 10% error tolerance. |
| Do candidates need to be from Himachal Pradesh? | Non-bonafide-Himachali candidates need local schooling qualifications as specified; bonafide Himachalis are exempt from this condition. |
| Can I apply for both Regular and Contract mode of the same post? | No — one application per post covers all applicable modes; separate applications aren’t needed. |
| Are anticipated vacancies guaranteed to be filled? | No — anticipated vacancies are filled only if they materialise (e.g., through retirement/promotion), and candidates cannot claim them as a right. |
10. Official Links
- Official Notification PDF: Click Here
- Online Application Portal: https://www.hphcrecruitment.in/login
- R&P Rules, 2022 (Full Eligibility/Syllabus Reference): https://hphighcourt.nic.in/rules/districtjudiciary08082022.pdf
- Official High Court of HP Website: https://highcourt.hp.gov.in
- Queries/Clarification: arrecruitmement-hc@hp.gov.in (10 AM–1 PM & 2 PM–4 PM, working days)
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