DSSSB has released Advertisement No. 04/2026 for 641 posts in Delhi’s District & Sessions Courts and Family Courts. Online forms open on 6 October 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon) and close on 4 November 2026 at 11:00 PM.
Before anything else, check your date of birth. Without relaxation, you must be born between 2 June 1999 and 1 June 2008. Born on 1 June 1999? You are already out.
Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB), for Delhi District Courts |
| Posts | Senior Personal Assistant, Personal Assistant, Junior Judicial Assistant, Process Server, Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon |
| Advertisement No. | 04/2026, dated 30 September 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 641 (including backlog, tentative) |
| Application starts | 6 October 2026, 12:00 PM (noon) |
| Last date | 4 November 2026, 11:00 PM |
| Age limit | 18 to below 27 years, as on 1 June 2026 |
| Pay | Pay Level 3 to Pay Level 8, depending on the post |
| Apply at | https://dsssbonline.nic.in |
The link closes at 11:00 PM on the last day, not at midnight, so plan your submission at least a few days early.
About the Job
These are court staff posts in Delhi:
- Senior Personal Assistant and Personal Assistant are Group-B (Non-Gazetted) posts.
- Junior Judicial Assistant, Process Server and Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon are Group-C posts.
The notice does not list daily duties. From the post titles:
- PAs typically handle shorthand and typing work.
- JJAs handle clerical and computer work.
- Process Servers deliver court processes such as summons.
- Peons handle office support and dak.
DSSSB runs the written and skill tests. After that, the Delhi District Courts at Tis Hazari take over: they conduct the interviews, prepare the final merit list and allot you to a court.
Vacancy Details
| Post (Code) | Court | Pay Level | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total | PwBD | ESM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior PA (805/26) | District & Sessions | 8 | 10 | 08 | 03 | 05 | 01 | 27 | 07 | – |
| PA (805/26) | District & Sessions | 7 | 37 | 52 | 49 | 37 | 14 | 189 | 25 | – |
| PA (805/26) | Family Courts | 7 | 06 | 04 | 02 | 03 | 02 | 17 | 02 | – |
| JJA (806/26) | District & Sessions | 5 | 63 | 40 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 151 | 08 | 15 |
| JJA (806/26) | Family Courts | 5 | 07 | 07 | 04 | 03 | 02 | 23 | 02 | 02 |
| Process Server (807/26) | District & Sessions | 4 | 38 | 25 | 13 | 06 | 09 | 91 | 04 | 10 |
| Process Server (807/26) | Family Courts | 4 | 00 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 00 |
| Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon (808/26) | District & Sessions | 3 | 56 | 38 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 139 | 06 | 14 |
| Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon (808/26) | Family Courts | 3 | 00 | 02 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 03 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 217 | 176 | 116 | 75 | 57 | 641 | 54 | 41 |
PwBD and ESM seats are included within the category numbers, not added on top.
A few things stand out:
- Personal Assistant (District Courts) has more OBC seats (52) and SC seats (49) than UR seats (37). This is good news for reserved category candidates with shorthand skills.
- Senior PA has only 1 EWS seat. Process Server (Family Courts) has a single seat, and it is SC.
- Peon (Family Courts) has no UR seat at all.
- There are no ESM seats in Senior PA or PA. There are also no MSP seats anywhere.
These numbers are tentative. The notice says they can go up or down “up to any number”.
Eligibility
Educational Qualification
| Post | Essential qualification (as in the notice) |
|---|---|
| Senior Personal Assistant | Graduate with speed of not less than 110 words per minute in Shorthand and 40 words per minute in typewriting |
| Personal Assistant | Graduate with Shorthand speed of 100 words per minute and typing speed of 40 words per minute and having knowledge of computer |
| Junior Judicial Assistant | Graduate with typing speed of not less than 40 words per minute on Computer |
| Process Server | Matriculation pass or equivalent from a recognized board / Higher Secondary with driving licence of LMV and 2 years unblemished driving experience |
| Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon | Matriculation pass or equivalent from a recognized board |
No post asks for a “desirable” qualification. Only Process Server needs experience.
The Process Server catch. A 10th pass certificate alone is not enough. You also need an LMV driving licence and 2 years of clean driving experience. The experience row of the notice confirms that this experience is essential, so do not apply without the licence.
Your qualification must be complete by 4 November 2026. The notice says candidates without the essential qualification on this date “need not apply”. If your final-year result comes after 4 November, this recruitment is not for you.
Age Limit
You must have turned 18 but not yet turned 27 on 1 June 2026. In date terms, you must be born between 2 June 1999 and 1 June 2008. Your date of birth is taken from your Matriculation (10th) certificate, and no change is allowed later.
| Category | Relaxation | Born on or after (calculated) |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | – | 2 June 1999 |
| OBC (Delhi) | 3 years | 2 June 1996 |
| SC / ST | 5 years | 2 June 1994 |
| PwBD + UR/EWS | 10 years | 2 June 1989 |
| PwBD + OBC (Delhi) | 13 years | 2 June 1986 |
| PwBD + SC/ST | 15 years | 2 June 1984 |
| Ex-Servicemen | Military service + 3 years | Up to age 55 |
The third column is worked out from the notice’s base dates, so double-check it against your own certificate. Government employees get no relaxation for 3 years of service. The notice says DDC Rules, 2012 have no such provision.
Quick age check
| Date of birth | Category | Eligible? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 June 1999 | UR | No | Turned 27 exactly on 1 June 2026 |
| 2 June 1999 | UR | Yes | Still 26 on 1 June 2026 |
| 2 June 2008 | UR | No | Turns 18 one day after the cut-off date |
| 10 January 1997 | OBC (Delhi) | Yes | Within the 3-year relaxation |
| 10 January 1997 | OBC (outside Delhi, not covered by the exception) | No | Treated as UR, so no relaxation |
The first row is the most common mistake. “27 years” here means you must not have turned 27, so one day can decide everything.
OBC Rule: Read This If You Are OBC
OBC reservation and relaxation are given only to castes notified as OBC by the Delhi Government. Only two types of certificates are accepted:
- An OBC (Delhi) certificate issued by the Revenue Department, Delhi Government.
- An OBC certificate from a state outside Delhi, but only if:
- your caste is on Delhi’s OBC list, and
- the certificate was issued on the basis of a Delhi OBC certificate held by your father, sibling or real paternal uncle who lived in Delhi before 8 September 1993.
Any other OBC certificate from outside Delhi means you must apply as UR.
Two dates matter for OBC candidates:
- Your OBC certificate must be issued on or before 4 November 2026.
- Your Non-Creamy Layer certificate must be issued on or after 1 April 2026, and not later than 4 November 2026.
EWS, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen
EWS: You need an Income & Asset Certificate valid for FY 2026-27, based on FY 2025-26 income, issued on or before 4 November 2026. EWS appointments stay provisional until the certificate is verified.
PwBD:
- Reservation applies only if you have at least 40% of the relevant disability.
- Senior PA and PA are suitable only for locomotor disabilities (OL, BL, LC, Dw, AAV, SD/SI). They are not suitable for blind, low vision, deaf or other categories.
- JJA, Process Server and Peon are open to a wider range of disabilities. Check your exact category in the notice table for your post.
Ex-Servicemen: Already working on a regular civil post that you got through ESM reservation? Then you get no ESM reservation and no fee waiver. You still get the ESM age relaxation if you are applying for a higher post.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC / EWS (men) | ₹100 |
| Women (all categories), SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
Pay only through SBI e-pay. If you pay any other way, the money is forfeited. The fee is not refunded under any circumstances.
Salary
| Post | Pay Level | Pay Scale | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Personal Assistant | 8 | ₹9,300–34,800 + Grade Pay ₹4,800 | Group-B (Non-Gazetted) |
| Personal Assistant | 7 | ₹9,300–34,800 + Grade Pay ₹4,600 | Group-B (Non-Gazetted) |
| Junior Judicial Assistant | 5 | ₹5,200–20,200 + Grade Pay ₹2,800 | Group-C |
| Process Server | 4 | ₹5,200–20,200 + Grade Pay ₹2,400 | Group-C |
| Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon | 3 | ₹5,200–20,200 + Grade Pay ₹2,000 | Group-C |
The notice gives both the pay level and the older pay-band format. It does not state the starting basic pay or allowances.
Selection Process
| Post | Stages | Final merit based on |
|---|---|---|
| Senior PA / PA | Tier-I MCQ → Tier-II Descriptive English → Tier-III Skill Test (qualifying) → Tier-IV Interview (10 marks) | Tier-II + Tier-IV |
| Junior Judicial Assistant | Tier-I MCQ → Tier-II Descriptive English → Tier-III Typing Test (qualifying) → Tier-IV Interview (15 marks) | Tier-II + Tier-IV |
| Process Server | Tier-I MCQ → Tier-II Driving Test (qualifying) → Tier-III Interview (15 marks) | Tier-I + Tier-III |
| Peon/Orderly/Dak Peon | Tier-I MCQ → Tier-II Interview (15 marks) | Tier-I + Tier-II |
This table hides the most useful insight in the whole notice:
- For PA and JJA, your MCQ score does not count in the final merit. It only gets you shortlisted. Your rank depends on the descriptive English paper and the interview.
- For Process Server and Peon, every MCQ mark counts in the final merit.
How many people move to the next stage:
- PA and JJA: up to 25 times the vacancies are called for Tier-II. Up to 10 times the vacancies are called for the skill test.
- Process Server: up to 15 times the vacancies are called for the driving test.
- Peon: up to 10 times the vacancies are called for the interview.
- If candidates are tied at the cut-off, all of them are called.
Senior PA and PA share one common Tier-I shortlist. After that, their skill tests are held separately.
Exam Pattern
Senior PA / PA
- Tier-I: 90 MCQs, 90 marks, 90 minutes, English only. General English & Comprehension 50, General Knowledge (including current affairs) 20, General Intelligence 20.
- Tier-II: 75 marks, 3 questions, 90 minutes. Essay (250 words) 30, Grammar 25, Translation (20 words) 20.
- Tier-III skill test:
- Senior PA: a 550-word passage dictated in 5 minutes, then 40 minutes to transcribe on computer, with up to 22 mistakes (4%) allowed.
- PA: a 500-word passage dictated in 5 minutes, then 40 minutes to transcribe, with up to 20 mistakes (4%) allowed.
- Typing at 40 wpm for both.
- No extra reading time is given. You get two attempts, and the better one counts.
Junior Judicial Assistant
- Tier-I: 120 MCQs, 120 marks, 120 minutes, English only. General English & Comprehension 60, General Knowledge 30, General Intelligence 30.
- Tier-II: 100 marks, 3 questions, 120 minutes. Essay (300 words) 50, Grammar 30, Translation (25 words) 20.
- Tier-III: typing test at 40 wpm, qualifying only.
Process Server and Peon
- Tier-I: 100 MCQs, 100 marks, 120 minutes (160 minutes for PwD candidates). English 25, Hindi 25, General Knowledge 25, Arithmetic 25.
- The paper is in English and Hindi, except the two language sections.
- The Process Server driving test is qualifying only and is held in real traffic conditions.
- The Principal District & Sessions Judge (HQs) can change or drop any stage for these two posts.
Marking rules for all posts:
- Each MCQ carries 1 mark, and 0.25 mark is cut for every wrong answer.
- Minimum marks in Tier-I and Tier-II: 50% for UR/EWS; 45% for OBC (Delhi), SC, ST, PwBD and ESM.
- The interview has no minimum marks.
The notice lists subjects but gives no topic-wise syllabus.
Post and Court Preference
You do not choose District Courts or Family Courts in the form. The Delhi District Courts ask for your preference at the interview.
- Once given, the preference is final and cannot be changed.
- If you skip it, the courts allot a post at their discretion.
- Once you get your first available preference, you are not considered for later ones.
How to Apply
If you are new to DSSSB, register first (one-time):
- Go to https://dsssbonline.nic.in and click “Click for New Registration”. The session lasts 30 minutes, so keep everything ready before you start.
- Upload a scanned photo ID: PAN, Voter ID, Driving Licence or Passport, in JPG/JPEG, between 15 KB and 60 KB. If you enter your Aadhaar number, no scan is needed.
- Use an email ID and mobile number that are not already registered on the DSSSB portal. Verify both with OTP if you can; one OTP is enough to register.
- Enter your Class 10 roll number in numbers only. For 12CSC0204, type 120204. Do not add leading zeros.
- Check the preview carefully. Your name, gender and father’s name cannot be edited later.
Then apply:
- Log in with your registration number and password.
- Choose your post code under Advertisement No. 04/2026 and fill in the form.
- Upload your photo and signature.
- Pay ₹100 through SBI e-pay, if it applies to you.
- Submit and take a printout.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Photograph: recent and clear, in colour, with a plain white or off-white background, full face, front view and eyes open. Keep printed copies on photo paper, because the board may ask you to bring the same photo.
- Signature: clear and readable. Blurred photos or signatures lead to rejection.
- Class 10 certificate (this is your date of birth proof).
- Graduation or Class 10 certificate, as your post needs. Shorthand and typing speed are tested in the skill test.
- For Process Server: LMV driving licence and proof of 2 years of driving experience.
- Category certificates, if you claim any benefit: OBC (Delhi) with NCL, EWS, SC/ST, disability certificate, or discharge proof for Ex-Servicemen.
You do not upload certificates with the form. They are asked for later in the e-dossier stage. Miss that deadline and your candidature ends, with no second chance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting your age on the wrong date or the wrong way. Age is fixed on 1 June 2026, and you must not have turned 27.
- Applying for Process Server with only a 10th pass certificate. You also need the LMV licence and 2 years of driving experience.
- Claiming OBC with an ineligible certificate. An outside-Delhi certificate counts only under the 1993 rule explained above. An NCL issued before 1 April 2026 will not be accepted.
- Making two registrations or two applications for the same exam. All of them get rejected, and you can be banned from DSSSB exams.
- Choosing the wrong category in the form. No change is allowed after submission, not even a category change.
- Taking banned items to the exam centre. Phones, earbuds, electronic watches or metal items mean debarment, even if the phone is switched off. There is no place to store them at the centre.
How to Prepare
For PA and Senior PA
- Speed is the gate. Practise dictation at 10 to 15 wpm above your target, so the real test feels comfortable.
- Practise transcribing on a computer, not by hand, within 40 minutes. Keep a count of your errors against the 4% limit.
- Write one 250-word essay every week. Tier-II decides your rank.
For JJA
- Half the MCQ paper and the whole descriptive paper test English.
- Work on grammar rules and short translation practice. The notice does not say which languages the translation will be between.
- Practise 300-word essays with a clear structure: introduction, three points, conclusion.
For Process Server and Peon
- Your MCQ marks go straight into the merit list.
- Revise Class 10 arithmetic (percentage, ratio, time and work, simple interest) and Hindi grammar.
- Avoid blind guessing because of the negative marking.
- Process Server candidates should also practise driving in busy city traffic.
For everyone: read a newspaper daily for the GK section, and start practice now. The exam date will be announced later on the DSSSB and Delhi District Courts websites.
FAQs
Can I apply for more than one post code?
Each post code has its own separate combined exam. The notice allows only one application per candidate “for the Examination”. The safe reading is one application per post code. Confirm on the portal before applying to two.
What happens if I do not give a preference at the interview?
The Delhi District Courts will allot you a post or court at their discretion, and that decision is final.
Will my marks be normalised?
If the computer-based exam runs in multiple shifts, scores are normalised using DSSSB’s formula from its notice dated 11 July 2018. The final merit uses the normalised scores.
Can I challenge the answer key or get my paper rechecked?
You can raise online objections to the draft answer key within the time the board allows. There is no re-evaluation or rechecking of answer sheets.
What if two candidates get the same marks?
The older candidate ranks higher. If the dates of birth are also the same, the candidate whose first name comes first alphabetically (in English) ranks higher.
Will the exam be held only in Delhi?
No. Centres may be in Delhi/NCR or other states, and requests to change the date, time or centre are not accepted.
Do PwBD candidates get extra time in the PA or JJA papers?
PwBD candidates with a writing limitation get compensatory time as per government orders, whether or not they use a scribe. For Process Server and Peon, the notice fixes this at 160 minutes.
What should I wear on exam day?
Light clothes with half sleeves, with no big buttons, brooch or badge, and salwar or trousers. Wear slippers or low-heeled sandals; shoes are not allowed.
Official Links
- Notification PDF: https://dsssb.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/DSSSB/circulars-orders/final_adv_1.pdf
- Apply online: https://dsssbonline.nic.in
- DSSSB vacancies page: https://dsssb.delhi.gov.in/dsssb-vacancies
- Official website: https://dsssb.delhi.gov.in
Read the notification carefully before you pay or submit. If the English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi versions differ, the English version is final.
