Karnataka High Court Group D Recruitment 2026: 101 Posts – Peon, Watchman, Sweeper & More, Apply by 21 May

101 vacancies are now open under Karnataka High Court Group D recruitment 2026 vacancy category wise notification, published in the Karnataka Rajyapatra (Official Gazette) on 22 April 2026. The High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru has issued two simultaneous notifications – HCRB 8/2025 (RPC) covering 93 posts under the Residual Parent Cadre and HCRB 9/2025 (KKR) covering 8 posts exclusively for the Kalyana Karnataka Region under Article 371(J). Posts include Peon, Watchman, Sweeper, Peons (House Keeping), Lift Attender, Assistant Binder, Tailor, and Dhobi. The minimum qualification is 10th Standard pass, making this one of the most accessible High Court recruitments in Karnataka. Applications must be submitted online at judiciary.karnataka.gov.in by 21 May 2026 up to 11:59 PM. Notably, this recruitment is subject to the final outcome of three pending Writ Petitions before the High Court.

Based on official notifications HCRB 8/2025 and HCRB 9/2025 by Registrar General, High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru. Published in Karnataka Rajyapatra, 22 April 2026. Verified: April 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

A critical but often missed eligibility point: for the KKR notification (HCRB 9/2025), candidates must possess the Article 371(J) eligibility certificate issued by the Competent Authority on or before 21 May 2026 – certificates obtained after this date will not be accepted.

Important Dates

Do not wait until the last day – applying early prevents technical issues with the SBI payment gateway and gives time to upload all documents correctly. Applications once submitted cannot be withdrawn or modified under any circumstances.

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Vacancy and Category Analysis

The Women horizontal reservation is the most striking feature of this notification – 28 out of 85 Peon/Watchman/Sweeper/HK seats under RPC are earmarked for women candidates, representing 33% of the category. This is a Karnataka state government mandate applied uniformly across all reservation categories, giving women applicants significantly better odds compared to general recruitment drives. The Rural Reservation (23 seats) is the second-largest horizontal category, making it crucial for candidates who studied from Class I to X in rural areas to obtain the BEO-countersigned certificate before applying. Kannada Medium Reservation (5 seats) rewards candidates who completed schooling in Kannada medium from Class I to X – another niche advantage unique to Karnataka state recruitments that most central government-focused candidates overlook. For the Kalyana Karnataka Region (KKR) notification, only candidates holding a valid Article 371(J) eligibility certificate are eligible – this is a constitutionally mandated special provision for the historically backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region covering Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, and Vijayanagara districts. The 1 Backlog post (Category-II(A), PwBD – Deaf and Hard of Hearing) is particularly noteworthy as it carries over from a previous unfilled reservation cycle.

Salary and In-Hand Calculation

Beyond salary, Karnataka High Court employees benefit from state government medical benefits, posting at the Principal Bench in Bengaluru or benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi, and job security under the High Court of Karnataka Service Rules 1973. Compared to state government Group D posts at the same pay level, High Court postings carry the additional prestige and job stability of a constitutional institution. Lift Attender and Tailor posts at Level-3 (₹21,700 entry) offer a marginally higher salary than Peon/Sweeper posts, making them attractive for candidates with the required experience.

Application Fee

Application fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances – including if paid for more than one application. Candidates applying to multiple posts must pay separately for each post application. Do not pay offline or through any other gateway – only the SBI online payment gateway integrated in the application portal is valid.

Age Limit

A special one-time age relaxation of 5 additional years has been granted vide Government Notification DPAR 262 SRR 2025 dated 29 January 2026. This means a General Merit candidate’s effective upper age limit is 40 years (already including this relaxation), and SC/ST/Category-I candidates can be up to 45 years. Age is calculated as on 21 May 2026. Example: A General Merit candidate born on 21 May 1986 would be exactly 40 years old on the last date – still eligible. A candidate born on 22 May 1985 would be 40 years and 1 day old – not eligible under General Merit.

Eligibility Criteria

The most common eligibility mistake for this recruitment is failing to upload the experience certificate for Lift Attender, Assistant Binder, Tailor, or Dhobi posts at the time of application – the notification is explicit that documents not uploaded during online application will not be accepted later under any circumstances. Candidates claiming equivalent qualifications must upload the official order/letter from the competent authority establishing equivalence. Final year 10th Standard students are not eligible – the certificate must be held as on the application last date.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Merit List Based on Qualifying Examination Marks

The shortlist for interview is prepared based on the percentage of total marks secured in the qualifying examination (10th Standard or equivalent). Candidates are ranked by merit within each reservation category. The number of candidates called for interview is equal to 10 times the number of vacancies in each category – meaning for a post with 5 seats, 50 candidates per category are called. Begin collecting your original marksheets now; SSLC percentage is your primary competitive tool here.

Stage 2: Interview (Maximum 10 Marks)

Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview carrying a maximum of 10 marks. This is not a written test – it is a personal interaction assessing suitability for High Court service. Candidates must appear at their own cost at the venue and time notified by the High Court on judiciary.karnataka.gov.in. Intimation is sent via SMS and email to the contact details furnished in the application.

Your first 7 days after submitting your application:

1. Save your application number carefully – it is the only way to download your interview intimation letter from the judiciary.karnataka.gov.in portal.
2. Take a printout of your submitted application form immediately for personal records – no reprint facility is guaranteed.
3. Collect originals of all uploaded documents: SSLC marksheet, caste certificate (in prescribed Form D/E/F), Rural Reservation certificate (BEO-countersigned), Kannada Medium certificate, experience certificates as applicable.
4. If claiming Rural Reservation, verify your BEO-countersigned Form-2 and Tahsildar-issued Non-Creamy Layer Form-1 are valid as on 21 May 2026.
5. Arrange three character certificates: one from the Head of the institution where you completed 10th standard, and two from respectable persons in society who are not relatives.
6. For KKR applicants: verify your Article 371(J) eligibility certificate from the competent authority is dated on or before 21 May 2026.
7. Monitor judiciary.karnataka.gov.in regularly – all updates including interview list and intimation letters are published only on the website; no individual postal communication is sent.

Exam Syllabus

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website: judiciary.karnataka.gov.in and navigate to the Group D recruitment section.
2. If applying for multiple posts, use the separate links provided for each post cadre – a single application cannot cover multiple posts.
3. Fill in all required details accurately. Once submitted, the application cannot be withdrawn or modified.
4. Upload photograph (passport size, white background, JPG, max 50KB, 5cm×3.5cm) and signature (black ballpoint on white paper, JPG, max 25KB, 2.5cm×7.5cm).
5. Upload all required documents in PDF format – SSLC marksheet, caste certificate, and all applicable reservation certificates. Documents not uploaded now will not be accepted later.
6. Pay the application fee through the SBI online payment gateway integrated in the portal before 11:59 PM on 21 May 2026.
7. Preview the filled application before final submission and take a printout for personal records.
8. Save your application number for downloading the interview intimation letter when published.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approximate in-hand salary for Karnataka High Court Group D posts in 2026?

Peon, Watchman, Sweeper, and Peon (House Keeping) posts are at Pay Level-2 with entry basic pay of ₹19,900. After adding DA (approximately 42%), HRA, and other allowances, and deducting NPS (10%) and other contributions, the estimated in-hand salary is ₹18,500–₹21,000 per month depending on posting location. Lift Attender and Tailor posts at Pay Level-3 (₹21,700 entry) offer approximately ₹20,000–₹22,000 in-hand.

What is the last date to apply for Karnataka High Court Group D 2026?

The online application and fee payment deadline is 21 May 2026 up to 11:59 PM. Applications once submitted cannot be withdrawn or modified, so fill in all details carefully before final submission.

How many total vacancies are there and what are the post names?

There are 101 total vacancies – 93 under the Residual Parent Cadre (HCRB 8/2025) and 8 under the Kalyana Karnataka Region (HCRB 9/2025). Posts include Peon, Watchman, Sweeper, Peon (House Keeping), Lift Attender, Assistant Binder, Tailor, and Dhobi.

What is the age limit for Karnataka High Court Group D 2026?

Minimum age is 18 years for all categories. Maximum age is 40 years for General Merit, 43 years for Category-II(A)/II(B)/III(A)/III(B) OBC candidates, and 45 years for SC/ST/Category-I candidates. A one-time 5-year relaxation per Government Notification DPAR 262 SRR 2025 is already incorporated in these figures.

What is the Kalyana Karnataka Region (KKR) quota in this recruitment?

The KKR notification (HCRB 9/2025) reserves 8 posts exclusively for candidates from the Kalyana Karnataka Region (formerly Hyderabad-Karnataka) under the constitutional provision of Article 371(J). Eligible candidates must hold an eligibility certificate issued by the Competent Authority under the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation in Appointment for Hyderabad-Karnataka Region) Rules, 2013, valid on or before 21 May 2026.

Is experience required to apply for Peon and Watchman posts in this recruitment?

No experience is required for Peon, Watchman, Sweeper, and Peon (House Keeping) posts – 10th Standard pass is the only requirement. However, Lift Attender requires experience in lift mechanism, Assistant Binder requires 2 years of binding experience, Tailor requires 3 years of tailoring experience, and Dhobi requires relevant dhobi work experience. These must be certified and uploaded at the time of application.

What is the selection process for Karnataka High Court Group D 2026?

Selection is a two-stage process. First, candidates are shortlisted for interview based on their 10th Standard qualifying examination percentage – 10 times the number of vacancies per category are called. Then, an interview of maximum 10 marks is conducted. There is no written test. Final merit is determined by combining the qualifying exam percentage and interview marks.

Can I apply to both the RPC and KKR notifications simultaneously?

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria for both. However, you must submit completely separate online applications through the respective links provided for each notification on judiciary.karnataka.gov.in, along with separate fee payments and document uploads for each. For the KKR notification, the Article 371(J) eligibility certificate is additionally required.