The High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh has officially announced Employment Advertisement No. 02/DRV/HC/2026 for the direct recruitment of 56 Staff Car Drivers in the establishment of the High Court. Matriculate candidates possessing a valid commercial Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving license with at least two years of spotless driving experience can submit their online applications via the official judicial recruitment portal highcourtchd.gov.in before the prescribed closing date. Successful candidates will be appointed in Pay Matrix Level-L02 with initial basic pay of ₹19,900/- plus admissible court allowances.
Punjab & Haryana High Court Driver Recruitment 2026: Fast Overview Table
A concise summary of the essential administrative criteria, driving credentials, and judicial payroll parameters is tabulated below:
| Recruiting Constitutional Body | High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh |
|---|---|
| Employment Notice Reference | Advertisement No. 02/DRV/HC/2026 |
| Sanctioned Vacancies | 56 Staff Car Driver Posts |
| Pay Scale Structure | Pay Matrix Level-L02 (Initial Pay ₹19,900/- plus Special Court Allowance) |
| Candidate Age Limit | 18 to 35 years as on the last date of application |
| Application Processing Fee | ₹500/- for General; ₹250/- for SC/ST/BC of Punjab & Haryana |
| Judicial Headquarters | Sector 1, Capitol Complex, Chandigarh – 160001 |
| Official High Court Portal | https://highcourtchd.gov.in/ |
Establishment Roster & Category-wise Driver Vacancy Distribution
The 56 sanctioned driver posts in the Punjab and Haryana High Court registry are apportioned across statutory categories in conformity with High Court establishment rules:
- General / Unreserved (UR): 28 vacancies for open competition merit candidates holding valid commercial LMV endorsements.
- Scheduled Castes of Punjab & Haryana (SC): 11 vacancies reserved for domiciled SC applicants.
- Backward Classes / Other Backward Classes (BC/OBC): 8 vacancies for non-creamy layer backward class candidates.
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 5 vacancies earmarked for eligible family income criteria applicants.
- Ex-Servicemen (ESM): 4 vacancies reserved for released armed forces motor transport personnel.
Drivers appointed to the High Court registry are assigned to the pool of official staff cars providing transport to Hon'ble Judges, visiting judicial dignitaries, the Registrar General, judicial officers on deputation, and high court registry transit services across Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana jurisdictions.
Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications, Driving License & Physical Standards
Academic Qualifications & Commercial Driving License Vintage
Candidates must have passed Matriculation (10th standard) from a recognized education board with Punjabi or Hindi as one of the compulsory subjects. In addition, the applicant must possess a valid Commercial Light Motor Vehicle (LMV-Commercial) or Transport Driving License issued by a competent licensing authority. The commercial driving license must have been issued at least two years prior to the closing date of application and must remain valid throughout the recruitment process.
Age Limits, Cutoff Dates & Relaxation Provisions
The age of the applicant must not be below 18 years and must not exceed 35 years as on the final cutoff date of online registration. The upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years for SC, ST, and BC applicants belonging to the States of Punjab and Haryana, up to 45 years for in-service high court or subordinate court employees, and as per defense service rules for Ex-Servicemen candidates.
Physical Standards, Eye Sight & Clean Traffic Record
Applicants must possess sound physical health and stamina for prolonged driving shifts. Distant vision must be 6/6 in each eye with or without spectacles, with normal color vision (no color blindness). The candidate's driving record must be entirely unblemished: candidates with past criminal convictions under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, rash or negligent driving offenses under Section 279/304A IPC/BNS, or suspension of driving license are ineligible.
Appointees must be proficient in operating modern automatic and manual transmission staff sedans and SUVs, maintaining vehicle mileage logbooks, performing routine oil, coolant, and brake fluid inspections, diagnosing minor battery and ignition faults, and strictly obeying urban traffic regulations in the Union Territory of Chandigarh and adjoining states.
7th CPC Pay Scale Matrix & Court Driver Allowances
Appointed Staff Car Drivers are placed in Pay Matrix Level-L02 with an initial basic pay of ₹19,900/- per month. Beyond basic salary, drivers are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA) as sanctioned by the High Court administration, House Rent Allowance (HRA) at Chandigarh rates (27%), City Compensatory Allowance, Special High Court Allowance, uniform maintenance allowance, washing allowance, and overtime allowance for duties extending beyond standard registry operating hours. Appointees are covered under the New Defined Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS).
Selection Methodology: Practical Driving Test & Viva-Voce Assessment
The selection pipeline is rigorously merit-oriented, consisting of practical field evaluations:
- Initial Scrutiny & Document Verification: Verification of original matriculation certificate, commercial driving license authenticity through VAHAN/Sarathi database, proof of age, and caste/domicile credentials.
- Practical Driving Skill Test (85 Marks): Administered on an official track test facility under the supervision of a committee of Automobile Engineers and High Court Officers. Tests assess:
- Reverse parallel parking within demarcated track boundaries without touching cones.
- Zig-zag maneuvering, 'S' track driving, and 8-track forward and reverse loops.
- Gradual hill ascent stop-and-go without vehicle rollback using handbrake technique.
- Smooth clutch-gear coordination, braking distance control, and emergency obstacle avoidance.
- Viva-Voce & Mechanical Aptitude Interview (15 Marks): Oral evaluation testing knowledge of Motor Vehicles Act signs, mandatory road signals, dashboard warning indicators, routine engine troubleshooting, basic vehicle maintenance, and court etiquette.
How to Apply for High Court Driver Recruitment Step-by-Step
Follow these official procedural steps to complete registration on the High Court recruitment system:
- Visit the official High Court of Punjab and Haryana website at https://highcourtchd.gov.in/ and navigate to the 'Recruitment' tab.
- Select "Recruitment of Driver in High Court of Punjab and Haryana - 2026".
- Read the detailed notification guidelines and register using a functional mobile number and personal email address to generate unique login credentials.
- Fill in personal details, residential address, matriculation roll number, marks obtained, and driving license number with issuing authority details.
- Upload scanned copies of recent passport-size photograph, clear signature, matriculation marksheet, and both front and reverse sides of the Commercial LMV Driving License.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹500/- (₹250/- for SC/ST/BC of Punjab & Haryana) using the integrated online payment gateway via Net Banking, Debit Card, or UPI.
- Submit the completed application form and print two copies of the system-generated application confirmation page and fee receipt for future reference during the practical skill test.
Important Dates & Application Timeline
The official calendar of events for the driver recruitment drive is outlined below:
| Official Advertisement Release | Notified on High Court Chandigarh Website |
|---|---|
| Commencement of Online Registration | Portal Active |
| Final Closing Date for Online Submission | As per Official Notice Schedule |
| Last Date for Fee Payment Online | Simultaneous with Application Closing |
| Admit Card Release for Driving Test | 7 to 10 days prior to practical track test |
| Practical Driving Skill Test Dates | To be scheduled at Chandigarh driving test grounds |
| Final Merit List Publication | Published on highcourtchd.gov.in |
Official Notification Downloads & Portal Links
Frequently Asked Questions (High Court Driver 2026)
Is a private non-transport Light Motor Vehicle license accepted for this post?
No. The recruitment rules clearly mandate a valid Commercial LMV (Transport) Driving License. Non-transport private car licenses do not fulfill the qualification criterion.
How is the two-year driving experience calculated?
The two-year driving experience is reckoned from the exact date of issue of the commercial driving license up to the closing date of application submission.
Is there any negative marking in the practical driving test?
Points are deducted during the practical test for hitting boundary cones, engine stalling during hill starts, improper clutch riding, failure to use turn signals, or jerky deceleration.
What are the reporting duties and working hours for High Court staff car drivers?
Staff car drivers operate on judicial shift rosters. Duties correspond to court sittings, administrative tours, and evening official escort responsibilities for judicial benches.
Are candidates from states other than Punjab and Haryana eligible to apply?
Yes. Candidates belonging to any Indian state can apply. However, applicants residing outside Punjab, Haryana, or UT Chandigarh are treated as General category candidates regardless of their caste status.
What original documents are checked prior to entry into the driving test track?
Candidates must bring the original Commercial LMV License, original Matriculation Certificate, photo identity card (Aadhaar or Voter ID), online application confirmation printout, and category certificate if claiming fee concession.
Can a candidate with past traffic challans participate in the recruitment?
Minor compoundable spot fines for parking do not disqualify an applicant, but any pending judicial proceedings, suspension of license for drink-and-drive (Section 185 MV Act), or reckless driving will cause immediate cancellation of candidature.
Anti-Fraud Advisory & Judicial Recruitment Integrity
Recruitment to the establishment of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana is conducted strictly on competitive merit demonstrated during the practical driving skill test and personal interview. The High Court administration does not appoint any private agents, driving schools, or intermediaries. Any solicitation of money or promises of guaranteed selection are unlawful and fraudulent. Applicants encountering touts or dishonest claims should immediately report details to the Registrar Recruitment, High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh, or local law enforcement authorities.