The High Court of Kerala has invited online applications from qualified Indian citizens for the temporary appointment of Research Assistants on a contract basis. The recruitment is being conducted under Recruitment Notification No. 23/2026, dated 29 October 2026.
A total of 48 anticipated vacancies have been notified. Eligible candidates with a degree in Law, including final-year and final-semester law students, can apply through the official recruitment portal of the High Court of Kerala.
This is an opportunity for law graduates and eligible final-year law students to gain professional exposure within the judicial institution.
Recruitment Overview
- Recruiting Authority: High Court of Kerala
- Name of the Post: Research Assistant
- Recruitment Number: 23/2026
- Nature of Appointment: Temporary (Contract Basis)
- Number of Vacancies: 48 (Anticipatory)
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹35,000
- Tenure: One year, extendable to a second year subject to Government sanction and performance assessment.
- Application Mode: Online
- Notification Date: 29 October 2026
- Official Website: https://hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in
1. Number of Vacancies
The High Court of Kerala has notified 48 anticipatory vacancies for the post of Research Assistant.
Vacancies that may arise during the validity period of the ranked list will also be filled from the list. The ranked list prepared pursuant to this notification will remain in force for a minimum period of one year from the date on which it is brought into force and shall continue until the publication of a fresh list or the expiry of two years, whichever is earlier.
2. Remuneration
Selected candidates will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹35,000.
The amount may be enhanced subject to Government sanction.
3. Tenure of Appointment
The appointment will initially be for a period of one year.
The tenure may be extended to the second year based on Government sanction for the continuance of the post and the candidate’s performance assessment.
4. Educational Qualification
The prescribed educational qualification is:
- Graduation in Law.
Final-year and final-semester law students are also eligible to apply.
However, their applications will be considered only upon production of all the required certificates and the consolidated mark sheet at the time of certificate verification, which will take place before the viva voce examination.
5. Age Limit
Candidates born between 1 December 1994 and 30 November 2004, both days inclusive, are eligible to apply for this post.
6. Selection Procedure
The selection process will be based on the following:
- Written Test and/or Scientific/Computer-Based Test.
- Viva Voce Examination.
Candidates will be selected through the prescribed assessment and interview process conducted by the High Court of Kerala.
7. Application Fee
The application fee is ₹1,000 (Rupees One Thousand only).
However, candidates belonging to the following categories are exempted from payment of the application fee:
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Unemployed Differently Abled Candidates with Benchmark Disabilities.
Candidates required to pay the fee can do so through either of the following methods:
- Online payment through Debit Card, Credit Card or Net Banking.
- System-generated Fee Payment Challan.
Any applicable bank transaction charges must be borne by the candidate.
8. Scribe Facility and Compensatory Time for Differently Abled Candidates
Differently abled candidates whose writing speed is affected may avail themselves of the services of a scribe.
Important conditions:
- Candidates intending to use a scribe must indicate their requirement in the online application form.
- The use of a scribe will be governed by the guidelines prescribed by the High Court.
- Candidates must produce a medical certificate and declaration in the prescribed format at the time of the test.
- he prescribed format is available in the Downloads section of the recruitment portal.
- The qualification of the scribe must be at least one step below the minimum qualification prescribed for the post applied for.
Differently abled candidates, whether availing themselves of a scribe or not, will be allowed compensatory time of 20 minutes for every hour of examination, or part thereof, upon production of a medical certificate confirming their physical limitation to write.
The prescribed medical certificate format is available in the Downloads section of the official recruitment portal.
9. Important Guidelines for Applicants
Candidates should carefully note the following conditions before submitting their applications:
A. No Withdrawal of Application
Once an application has been submitted, it will not be allowed to be withdrawn.
B. Compliance with Instructions
Applications that do not comply with the instructions contained in the notification and the prescribed guidelines will be rejected.
C. Original Documents
Candidates must produce original documents to establish their age, educational qualifications and other relevant particulars whenever called upon to do so.
D. Accuracy of Information
Candidates must ensure that all particulars furnished in their applications are correct.
If it is discovered at any stage that a candidate does not satisfy the eligibility conditions, has provided incorrect or false information, or has suppressed any material fact, their candidature will be cancelled. If such shortcomings are detected even after appointment, their services are liable to be terminated.
Information or claims not specifically mentioned in the appropriate fields of the application will not be considered at a later stage.
E. Recognition of Degrees
Candidates possessing degrees not awarded by universities in Kerala must obtain a certificate of recognition of their degrees from any of the universities in Kerala and keep it with them.
The recognition certificate must be produced whenever required. Failure to produce it will result in cancellation of candidature.
F. Applications from Abroad
Candidates wishing to apply from abroad must forward an email detailing their location, along with their public IP address, to recruitment.hckerala@nic.in.
Such candidates will be allowed access to the recruitment portal to apply for the post. They must also inform the High Court through email after completing the online application process.
G. Documents for Fee Relaxation
Candidates claiming fee relaxation must produce the relevant Caste/Community Certificate or Disability Certificate, as applicable.
The certificate must be valid on the last date of closure of online application filing or on the date of certificate verification.
Failure to produce the required documents will result in invalidation of the application.
H. Verification of Information
Candidates must ensure the correctness of all information furnished in their applications. Suppression of material facts or submission of false information may lead to cancellation of candidature or termination of service, even after appointment.
I. Rejection of Non-Compliant Applications
Applications not submitted in accordance with the eligibility requirements, notification conditions and instructions published on the recruitment portal will be summarily rejected.
J. Misconduct During Selection
Candidates who misbehave or commit malpractice during the written test or interview may be disqualified or debarred by the High Court of Kerala from applying for any post in the High Court, either permanently or for such period as decided by the High Court.
K. Rights of the High Court
The High Court reserves the right to modify or cancel the notification at any stage of the selection process.
The decisions of the High Court regarding eligibility, conduct of written examinations, other tests and the selection process will be final and binding on all candidates. No representation or correspondence in this regard will be entertained.
L. Code of Conduct and Duties
The Code of Conduct and the Duties and Functions of Research Assistants are available under the Downloads section of the official recruitment portal.
10. One-Time Registration and Application Procedure
Applications must be submitted online through the official recruitment portal https://hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in.
Candidates must follow these steps:
Step 1: One-Time Registration
Candidates must complete the One-Time Registration process by using the One-Time Registration Login link available on the website.
The detailed procedure is provided under the How to Apply section of the portal.
Step 2: Prepare Required Documents
Before applying, candidates should carefully read the recruitment notification and the How to Apply instructions.
They should keep scanned copies of the following ready:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Educational qualification details
- Other required particulars and documents.
Step 3: Complete the Application
After entering the required information under My Profile, candidates can apply for the post by selecting Apply Now in the Dashboard and following the instructions displayed on the screen.
Step 4: Verify and Submit
Candidates must carefully check the preview of their application to ensure that all details are correct before submission.
Once submitted, no changes, editing or modifications can be made to the application.
11. Admission Tickets and Call Letters
Candidates must log in to their profiles on the recruitment portal to download their Admission Tickets and Call Letters.
The following timelines have been specified:
- Admission Ticket for the Test: Available for download three weeks before the date of the test.
- Call Letter for the Interview: Available for download two weeks before the interview.
Candidates will also be informed through SMS and email.
Candidates must not attempt to appear for the selection process using an edited or modified admission ticket. Doing so will result in disqualification and may lead to permanent debarment or debarment for a period decided by the High Court.
If a candidate is unable to download their Admission Ticket or Call Letter, they should contact the High Court at 0484-2562235.
Candidates must report any non-receipt of the Admission Ticket or Call Letter at least one week before the scheduled test or interview. Failure to communicate within this period will make the candidate solely responsible for non-receipt.
Candidates are also advised to visit the recruitment portal at least once a week to stay informed about the examination and interview schedules.
Issuance of an Admission Ticket or Call Letter does not constitute final acceptance of a candidate’s eligibility. Admission to the test or interview is provisional and subject to verification of the eligibility conditions and original documents by the High Court.
12. Important Dates
Candidates must take note of the following application and fee payment deadlines:
| Particulars | Important Date |
| Commencement of online application filing and online fee payment | 2 November 2026 |
| Last date for online application filing and online fee payment | 30 November 2026 |
| Commencement of offline fee payment | 4 December 2026 |
| Last date for offline fee payment | 11 December 2026 |
Note: The online application submission deadline and the offline fee payment deadline are different. Candidates should ensure that their applications and fee payments are completed within the respective deadlines.
13. Contact Information
For clarification or removal of doubts regarding the recruitment process, candidates may contact the High Court of Kerala.
Phone: 0484-2562235
Email: recruitment.hckerala@nic.in
Official Recruitment Portal: https://hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in
Telephone enquiries will be entertained on all working days between 10:00 AM and 4:30 PM.
