Supreme Court Junior Court Attendant Recruitment 2026 — 130 Posts, 10th/12th Pass, Apply Online

1. Introduction

The Supreme Court of India has notified 130 tentative vacancies for the post of Junior Court Attendant (JCA), a Group 'C' Non-Clerical post in Level 3 of the Pay Matrix (₹21,700–69,100). Candidates who have passed Class 10, and whose highest qualification is Class 12, can apply online between 4 November 2026 and 25 November 2026 (11:55 PM). The Objective Type Test is tentatively scheduled for 26 December 2026.

The advertisement, numbered F.3/2026-SC (RC) and dated 15 October 2026, is issued by the Recruitment Cell of the Supreme Court Registry. Selection runs through a 100-mark objective test followed by a 25-mark interview, and successful candidates are placed on a merit panel from which appointments are made. All eligibility conditions, including age, are counted as on 1 October 2026.

This guide goes beyond the headline numbers. It explains why graduates cannot apply, what the job actually involves day to day, how many correct answers you really need once negative marking is applied, what your estimated in-hand salary looks like at the current DA rate, and which small details in the notification (fee rules, panel conditions, employment intimation) catch candidates out.

2. About the Supreme Court Registry

The Junior Court Attendant post sits within the Registry of the Supreme Court of India, the administrative arm that supports the functioning of the country's highest court in New Delhi. The Registry handles case filings, listing, records, court management, and the internal administration that keeps courtrooms and chambers running each working day.

Recruitment for the Registry is handled by its own Recruitment Cell, not by SSC or any external commission. Service conditions, including reservation, are governed by the Supreme Court Officers and Servants (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1961. This matters for candidates because some rules (such as how reservation is applied) are drawn from these Rules rather than from the standard SSC framework many aspirants are used to.

3. Important Dates

The application window is open for exactly 22 days, from 4 November 2026 to 25 November 2026 at 11:55 PM, and the test is tentatively fixed for 26 December 2026. The entire written stage, including answer key objections, is scheduled to close before the end of December 2026.

4. Vacancy Details & Reservation

The Supreme Court has announced 130 tentative vacancies for a single post, Junior Court Attendant, and has not published a category-wise breakdown. The notification states that reservation will follow Rule 4A of the Supreme Court Officers and Servants Rules, 1961, rather than a printed UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS split.

Three points about these vacancies deserve attention:

• The count can change. The Registry may increase or reduce the number of posts based on administrative needs, with the approval of the competent authority.
• This is a panel, not a guaranteed job. Selected candidates are placed on a merit panel. Being on the panel does not by itself give a legal right to appointment.
• Relaxed-standard candidates stay in reserved seats. A reserved category candidate who qualifies using any relaxed standard (for example, age relaxation) can only be counted against reserved vacancies, even if their marks would have placed them in the unreserved list.

5. Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must be an Indian citizen who has passed at least Class 10 and whose qualification does not go beyond Class 12 (10+2). Both limits are counted as on 1 October 2026, from a Board or Institute recognised by the Government.

The Maximum Qualification Cap — Can Graduates Apply?

The notification sets Class 12 as the maximum qualification, which is unusual. Most Group C posts set only a minimum. Read plainly, a candidate who already holds a graduation degree exceeds the prescribed ceiling. Since every document is checked at the verification stage, and the notification states candidature will be cancelled at any stage if eligibility conditions are not met, graduates who apply risk losing the post even after clearing the test and interview.

Candidates currently pursuing graduation (not yet completed) are in a grey zone that the notification does not address. If you fall into this group, write to the Recruitment Cell before applying and keep the reply on record.

6. Age Limit & Relaxation

Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years of age as on 1 October 2026. In practical terms, a General category candidate must have been born on or after 2 October 1999 and on or before 1 October 2008.

The notification grants relaxation to SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), Persons with Disabilities, and Ex-Servicemen "as per Government of India rules" without printing the years. The table below shows the standard central government relaxation that normally applies, followed by the special categories the notification spells out explicitly.

7. Salary & In-Hand Pay

A Junior Court Attendant starts at a basic pay of ₹21,700 in Level 3 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (range ₹21,700–69,100). With Dearness Allowance at 63% from 1 July 2026 and Delhi's X-city HRA, the estimated gross monthly salary is around ₹47,700, and in-hand pay works out to roughly ₹44,000 after the pension deduction.

Estimated Salary Calculation (New Delhi Posting)

Beyond the starting figure, Level 3 pay grows through an annual increment of about 3% of basic pay, and DA is revised twice a year (January and July). Any recommendations of the 8th Central Pay Commission, once implemented, would also revise this structure.

8. Job Profile & Duties

A Junior Court Attendant is a non-clerical support role: the work is physical and service-oriented, not desk or computer work. The notification itself lists the expected duties, which many aggregator articles skip, so candidates should read this section before applying.

Who Is This Post a Good Fit For?

The post suits candidates who have completed Class 10 or Class 12, want a permanent central government job in Delhi, and are comfortable with physical, on-your-feet work through the day. The Supreme Court Registry keeps regular court hours, so the work follows the court calendar, including busy periods when files and paper books move constantly between chambers and courtrooms.

It is a weaker fit for candidates who are looking for clerical, typing, or computer-based work. Clerical posts in the Supreme Court Registry are recruited through separate advertisements with their own qualifications. Candidates should also note that the notification does not describe a promotion path, so career growth details will depend on the Registry's service rules.

9. Application Fee

The fee is ₹1,500 for General/Unreserved candidates and ₹750 for SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), Ex-Servicemen, and Physically Challenged candidates, plus bank charges. Payment is online only, through the UCO Bank payment gateway, and the fee is non-refundable.

10. Selection Process

Selection happens in two scored stages: an Objective Type Test (100 marks) and an Interview (25 marks), for a combined 125 marks. Document verification runs alongside, and the final merit panel is prepared from the combined result.

11. Exam Pattern & Negative Marking

The Objective Type Test has 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes, split equally across four sections of 25 questions each. Every correct answer earns 1 mark and every wrong answer costs 0.25 marks.

Overall Marks Structure

How Many Correct Answers Do You Need to Score 50?

Because of the 0.25 penalty, the number of correct answers you need to reach the qualifying 50 marks rises with the number of questions you attempt. Vacancy Vedika has worked out the minimum correct answers required at different attempt levels:

12. Exam Centres

The Objective Type Test will be held in 131 cities across India, listed in Annexure-A of the notification. Candidates choose cities in order of preference while applying, but the Registry can shift a candidate to any listed city, or even another city, for administrative reasons.

13. How to Apply

Applications are accepted only online through the link on the Supreme Court website, sci.gov.in. Postal applications will not be accepted, and once submitted, an application cannot be withdrawn or modified.

14. Answer Key & Objections

The provisional answer key will be uploaded on 28 December 2026, and objections can be raised online from 28 December to 29 December 2026 (till 11:55 PM). Each objection costs ₹100, which is refunded if the objection is found valid.

15. PwD Concessions & Scribe Rules

Persons with Disabilities receive concessions in line with the Office Memoranda of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, including a scribe and compensatory time where admissible.

• The scribe's qualification must follow Government of India rules, and must not exceed the candidate's own qualification.
• An own scribe cannot be a candidate in the same examination and cannot act as scribe for more than one candidate.
• Failure to produce supporting documents at the exam or verification stage cancels both the scribe facility and the candidature.
• No attendant other than the approved scribe is allowed into the examination hall.

16. General Instructions

The notification contains several conditions that apply before, during, and after selection. These are the ones most likely to affect candidates:

• Provisional admission: Admission to the test and interview is provisional. Eligibility documents are checked at verification, and candidature is cancelled at any stage if conditions are not met.
• Name and date of birth: Only details as recorded on your Class 10 certificate are accepted. Any change of name must be supported by a Gazette Notification.
• Category certificates: Reserved category candidates must hold a valid caste or community certificate, and OBC candidates a Non-Creamy Layer certificate, with details entered at the time of applying.
• No category change: Requests to change the category filled in the form will not be entertained.
• Serving employees: Candidates working in Central or State Government departments, PSUs, statutory bodies, or nationalised banks must produce a No Objection Certificate from their employer at document verification.
• New employment: If you were unemployed when applying but take up a job during or after the selection process, you must inform the Branch Officer, Recruitment Cell, at recruitment.cell@sci.nic.in. Failing to do so can lead to adverse inference.
• Admit cards: No admit cards are sent by post. Download them from the Supreme Court website using your Application Number.
• Communication: Interview dates and updates are posted on the website and sent by SMS and email to registered contacts.
• Misconduct: Impersonation, false documents, or suppressed information lead to removal, prosecution, and debarment, even after confirmation of service.
• Non-compliant forms: Applications that do not follow the instructions will be summarily rejected.
• Jurisdiction: Any dispute falls under the jurisdiction of Delhi.

17. Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most commonly asked questions about this recruitment. If your question is not answered here, refer to the official notification or the Supreme Court of India recruitment page.

18. Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)