Punjab and Haryana High Court Clerk Recruitment 2026 – 1270 Posts, Eligibility, Fee, Exam Pattern and Salary

Punjab and Haryana High Court Clerk Recruitment 2026 is now official, and it is one of the biggest clerk-level openings Punjab has seen in years. The Society for Centralized Recruitment of Staff in Subordinate Courts (SSSC), which works under the High Court, has announced 1270 Clerk posts through Detailed Employment Notice No. 37C/SSSC/PB/2026 dated 03 October 2026.

There is one thing many aspirants miss. These jobs are in the district courts of Punjab, not in the High Court building at Chandigarh. SSSC is simply the body that runs the recruitment on behalf of the District and Sessions Judges.

Online applications open on 07 October 2026 at 4:00 PM and close on 04 November 2026 at 4:00 PM. You need a graduate degree, a Punjabi-subject Matriculation pass and basic computer skills. We have gone through the official notice line by line and added the details that most summaries skip, such as negative marking, typing speed and the No Objection Certificate rule.

📌 Also Read: Latest Government Job Notifications 2026 – All Sarkari Naukri in one Place

📌 Also Read: Latest Punjab State Government Job Notifications 2026 – All in one Place

Punjab and Haryana High Court Clerk Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview

Important Dates

⚠️ The notice itself advises candidates to apply well before the closing date. Portals tend to slow down in the last few days, and the cut-off is final with no relaxation under any circumstances.

SSSC Clerk Vacancy 2026 – Category-wise Details

The notice lists 1270 posts in total. Of these, 793 are existing vacancies as on 31 August 2026 and 450 are anticipated up to 28 February 2027. The remaining 27 are posts reserved for women, which the notice shows in separate columns.

The number of posts can go up or down before the merit list is prepared. The High Court decides how many candidates are finally recommended.

✅ Only Punjab residents get reservation. Reservation, fee concession and age relaxation apply to residents of Punjab alone. If you belong to a reserved category in another state, you must apply under the Unreserved (General) category.

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) can apply only if their disability type appears in the vacancy table above. They must also hold a valid disability certificate as per the Punjab Government instructions mentioned in the notice.

SSSC Clerk Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

You must meet all three conditions below. The notice says qualification is checked as on the closing date of the online application, so you can still apply if your final result arrives before 04 November 2026.

• A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, or an equivalent degree, from a recognised university.
• A pass in Matriculation (Class 10) with Punjabi as one of the subjects.
• Proficiency in operating a computer.

💡 Pro Tip: The notice says “or equivalent” but does not list which degrees count. If you hold B.Com, BBA, BCA or any other degree, confirm equivalence with SSSC before paying the fee. The fee is non-refundable.

Age Limit (as on 01 January 2026)

Note that the age is counted as on 01 January 2026, not on the date of application. The 42 and 47 year figures are simply 37 plus the relaxation given in the notice.

Other Conditions

• You must follow the nationality, domicile and character rules of the Punjab Subordinate Courts Establishment (Recruitment and General Conditions of Service) Rules, 1997.
• A person with a living spouse who marries again is not eligible, unless the High Court grants an exemption under personal law.
• If you already work for a government body, keep a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your head of office ready. If you cannot produce it when asked, your candidature will be cancelled.
• You must agree to work anywhere in Punjab where you are posted. This undertaking is part of the online form.

📌 Also Read: Latest government job notifications 2026 and more state government jobs open this month.

Application Fee

Every candidate pays ₹550 as online facilitation charges, plus an examination fee that depends on the category.

You can pay by internet banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. The fee is non-refundable, and your application counts as submitted only after the payment goes through.

Two small costs come later. Raising an objection to the provisional answer key costs ₹25 per objection. Re-checking an answer sheet after the final result costs ₹500 per sheet, payable by Indian Postal Order within 30 days.

Punjab Court Clerk Salary 2026

Fresh recruits appointed on or after 17 July 2020 are placed on Level 5 with an entry basic pay of ₹29,200. This is as per the Punjab Government letter dated 12 September 2024, which the High Court has adopted for subordinate court staff.

The Dearness Allowance (DA) is where candidates should look closely. Reports from 04 September 2026 say the Punjab Government announced a rise in DA for post-July 2020 recruits on central pay scales from 42% to 60%. Here is what that means on the entry basic pay.

⚠️ These are gross figures before any deduction. House Rent Allowance (HRA), travel allowance and deductions depend on your posting city and current Punjab Finance Department orders, so we have not guessed them. Please check the final DA order before relying on the 60% figure.

Beyond salary, a district court clerk job gives you job security, regular increments and a clear promotion path within the court establishment. For the central DA picture, see our guide on the 60% DA and DR hike from January 2026, and use our DA calculator for quick numbers.

Selection Process

Selection has three stages, and your final rank depends on only one of them.

1. Written Exam (Computer Based Test): 100 marks, 2 hours. This decides your merit rank.
2. Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): Qualifying only. Marks are not added to your merit.
3. Original Document Check or Interaction: Candidates who clear both tests are called, in numbers decided by the High Court category-wise.

The final select list is prepared strictly on written exam marks. If two candidates score the same, the older candidate ranks higher. If the date of birth is also identical, names are arranged alphabetically (A to Z).

Written Exam Pattern

The subjective part has four tasks: an essay of 150 words (10 marks), a letter (5 marks), a precis (5 marks) and a Punjabi to English translation (10 marks). You will type these answers on the computer within the time limit.

✅ Negative marking applies. Every wrong answer in the multiple-choice questions costs you one-fourth of a mark. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.

To qualify, you need at least 33% in each subject and 40% in aggregate. Your English subjective answers will be checked only if you score 33% or more in General Knowledge. If the exam runs in multiple shifts, objective scores will be normalised.

Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)

The CPT is mandatory and has two parts.

• Part I – Spreadsheet Test: 10 marks, 10 minutes. You need at least 4 marks.
• Part II – English Typing Test: You need a speed of 30 words per minute. This part is checked only if you clear the spreadsheet test.

PwBD candidates can apply for exemption from the CPT. They must send the required disability or medical certificate within 15 days of the written exam result.

💡 Pro Tip: Treat typing as a skill to build now, not later. Practise English typing daily until 30 words per minute feels easy, and learn basic spreadsheet functions such as sum, sort and simple formatting.

How to Prepare for the SSSC Clerk Exam

You have about four weeks to apply and likely a few more before the exam date is announced. Use that time well.

• Start with the English subjective paper. It carries 30 marks, and you must type it. Practise one essay, one letter and one precis every week.
• Do not skip Punjabi to English translation. It is worth 10 marks and is where many candidates lose easy marks.
• Revise General Knowledge steadily. Focus on current affairs, Punjab and India basics, and general science. Remember the 33% cut-off in this subject.
• Take the mock test seriously. SSSC will upload a demo link about 15 days before the exam.
• Attempt only what you know. With negative marking, random guessing can pull your score down.

How to Apply Online

The application link goes live on 07 October 2026. Here is the process.

1. Open the official website www.sssc.gov.in.
2. Click the link titled “Clerk District Courts of Punjab”.
3. Fill in the Registration form first, then the Application Form.
4. Upload your recent passport-size photo (not older than one month, white background) and your scanned signature.
5. Capture the real-time photograph using your laptop or webcam when the form asks for it.
6. Select your category and sub-category carefully, because they cannot be changed later.
7. Pay the fee online and download a printout of the submitted form.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep a valid personal email ID and mobile number ready. All updates, including admit cards, reach you by email and SMS. Check your spam folder too, and never use someone else’s number.

⚠️ Common mistakes that cause rejection:

• Photo mismatch. The webcam photo, uploaded photo and photo pasted on the admit card must all match.
• Incomplete forms or unpaid fees. Both lead to rejection.
• Multiple applications. Only your latest application is considered.
• Missing certificates. Reserved-category claims need valid Punjab Government certificates dated on or before the closing date. EWS candidates need the Income and Assets certificate for 2026-27, and BC candidates may need a no-creamy-layer undertaking.

Keep five copies of the same photograph, as you will need them in later stages.

Things to Know Before You Apply

• No travel allowance. The notice states that no TA/DA is paid for the exam or document check.
• Exam centres. The exam can be held anywhere in Northern India, and you cannot request a change of centre, date or shift.
• Re-evaluation is not allowed. Only re-checking for left-out answers or totalling errors is possible, for a fee.
• Selection is not a guarantee of appointment. The High Court can reject a candidature at any stage if documents do not match.
• Beware of fake sites. Apply only through the official SSSC website. SSSC has warned that it is not responsible for phishing or fraud by outside parties.

📌 Also Read: Aiming for the judiciary later? See our guide to the BPSC Civil Judge recruitment 2026.

Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Word on Punjab and Haryana High Court Clerk Recruitment 2026

With 1270 posts, a Level 5 pay and a merit list based only on one computer-based exam, this recruitment is a strong chance for graduates in Punjab. The big advantage is that the CPT is only qualifying, so your written exam score is what counts.

Collect your certificates now, practise typing every day and apply early once the link opens on 07 October 2026. Stay ahead of every deadline by following Govtserviceinfo.com for daily Sarkari Naukri alerts, and join our Telegram channel for instant updates on the exam date and admit card.

Disclaimer: All information in this article has been sourced from the official recruitment notification published by the Society for Centralized Recruitment of Staff in Subordinate Courts (SSSC), High Court of Punjab and Haryana. GovtServiceInfo.com is not a recruiting authority and does not accept job applications. We strongly recommend reading the full official notification before applying and verifying all details, especially dates, eligibility, and fees, directly from the official website. We are not responsible for any changes made by the recruiting authority after the date of publication.