Punjab and Haryana High Court Recruitment 2026 — Driver & Frash, 56 Posts

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh has invited online applications for 56 posts — 25 Driver and 31 Frash — on its establishment. Driver needs a 10+2 pass with a valid LMV licence and 2 years' driving experience; Frash needs knowledge of Hindi and the regional language, with no formal educational qualification prescribed. Both posts require candidates aged 18 to 35 as on 18 September 2026. Online applications close on 18 September 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Who Should Apply

• Driver (25 posts) — 10+2 pass candidates with Punjabi/Hindi as a subject in matriculation, a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence, and at least 2 years of car-driving experience.
• Frash (31 posts) — candidates with knowledge of Hindi and the regional language; no formal educational qualification is prescribed for this post.

Category-wise split: Driver — 21 General, 3 SC/ST/BC, 1 Ex-Servicemen; Frash — 26 General, 3 SC/ST/BC, 2 Ex-Servicemen.

Eligibility & Age Limit

Driver candidates need a 10+2 pass with Punjabi/Hindi as one of the subjects in the matriculation examination, a valid LMV driving licence (no presumption of LMV eligibility is drawn merely from a higher category endorsed on the licence), at least 2 years' experience driving a car, and no conviction for negligent driving. Frash candidates need knowledge of Hindi and the regional language — no further formal educational qualification is specified. Proof of date of birth is accepted only through the Matriculation Certificate (for matriculate or higher candidates) or a Birth Certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths (for candidates below Matric).

Age: 18 to 35 years as on 18 September 2026, for both posts and all categories. Age relaxation: for Ex-servicemen, the upper age limit is relaxed by the number of years equal to their defence service plus 3 years. Reservation and fee relaxation for SC/ST/BC candidates apply only to those holding a valid certificate and domiciled/permanent resident of Punjab, Haryana, or U.T. Chandigarh — candidates from other states are considered under the General Category regardless of their caste certificate. Ex-servicemen fee relaxation applies only to the ex-servicemen themselves, not their dependents.

Since two qualification levels (10th and 12th) apply across these two posts with no single primary one, check the post-wise list above for the requirement that matches your background.

Salary & Pay Scale

The notification states that pay and allowances for selected candidates will be governed according to the latest applicable rules and instructions issued by the Government of Punjab, as adopted by the High Court — it does not state an exact pay scale, pay level, or monthly figure for either post. Don't rely on third-party rupee estimates for this recruitment; check the official notification or the High Court's own pay rules for confirmed figures.

Important Dates

The High Court has stated the closing date is sacrosanct — no application will be accepted after 18 September 2026.

Application Fee

For Frash only, there's no fee for dependents of Ex-servicemen disabled or deceased during active operations, provided they upload proof at application and produce the original at testimonials checking. The fee is payable online only, is non-refundable, and online transaction charges apply extra.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website, www.highcourtchd.gov.in, and locate the online application link for Employment Notice No. 04/DRV/HC/2026 (Driver) or 05/Frash/HC/2026 (Frash), as applicable — apply separately for each post you want to be considered for.
2. Register with a valid, active personal e-mail ID and mobile number.
3. Fill in personal details and category correctly — no changes are permitted after submission.
4. Upload a recent scanned passport-size photograph (not more than 30 days old, white background) and scanned signature.
5. Pay the applicable application fee online, or upload proof of fee exemption where applicable for Frash.
6. Review every entry carefully before final submission, and keep a printed copy of the submitted application form.

Since the notification requires your photograph to be recent (under 30 days old) and on a white background, take a fresh photo close to your application date rather than reusing an older one.

How Are Candidates Selected

Driver — Practical Test-cum-Interview: Selection is based on performance in a Practical Test-cum-Interview. The High Court may apply any suitable shortlisting criteria, announced via public notice, if the number of applications is large. Selection doesn't confer any right to appointment — candidates proposed for appointment first undergo a trial period, with confirmed appointment only after successful completion.

Frash — Interview: Worth 50 marks (25 for Suitability to the Job, 25 for Etiquette/Manners). Candidates equal to 4 times the advertised vacancies (category-wise), in order of interview merit, are then called for the Physical Endurance Test.

Frash — Physical Endurance Test (PET): A qualifying-only 800m race, plus a long jump and high jump (3 attempts each), with different time/distance standards by age band and gender. Failing any one event disqualifies you from the next event. The final Frash merit list is drawn strictly by interview marks, among candidates who clear the PET.

No TA/DA is paid for any stage, for either post.

Why This Job Matters

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh is one of India's high courts with joint jurisdiction over two states and a union territory, and its own establishment regularly recruits support staff like Driver and Frash directly. With 56 combined posts and a clear, structured, two-stage selection process for each role, this is a comparatively accessible entry point into judiciary-adjacent government service for candidates without a graduate degree.

The FreshersLike Take

Best fit: Driver suits a 10+2-pass candidate from Punjab, Haryana, or Chandigarh with a genuine LMV licence and real driving experience; Frash suits a candidate — even without a formal degree — who's fit enough to clear a real physical endurance test and comfortable with an interview-heavy, marks-based selection.

Who should think twice: Driver posts carry a real risk of being posted outside your home area — selected candidates may be posted at Delhi or in any district of Punjab and Haryana, not just at the High Court in Chandigarh. For Frash, the PET standards get noticeably tougher with age and give zero margin for a missed attempt, so don't assume the "no formal qualification" bar makes this an easy post to clear.

Practical tip: For Driver, the notification is explicit that a higher-category licence doesn't automatically prove LMV eligibility — make sure your licence itself lists LMV, not just a higher vehicle class, or your application risks rejection regardless of your actual driving skill. For Frash, since you're competing on a 50-mark interview even after the PET, don't treat the PET as the finish line — your interview performance is what actually decides your rank.

Documents Required

• Proof of qualification and date of birth (Matriculation Certificate, or Birth Certificate for candidates below Matric)
• Valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence and a 2-year car-driving experience certificate — for Driver applicants
• Caste certificate, if claiming SC/ST/BC reservation (must show domicile/permanent residence in Punjab, Haryana, or U.T. Chandigarh to claim the relaxed fee and reservation)
• No Objection Certificate, if currently employed in a Government/Semi-Government Department, Corporation, or Board
• Discharge book copy, for Ex-servicemen candidates
• Proof of dependent status, for fee-exempt Ex-servicemen dependents applying for Frash

What Happens After Selection

For Driver, candidates proposed for appointment first undergo a trial period, with confirmed appointment only after its successful completion — selection itself doesn't guarantee a right to appointment. [VERIFY] — the notification doesn't describe a separate probation or trial process for Frash beyond the interview-and-PET selection stages. Candidates for either post won't be allowed to carry mobile phones, electronic devices, watches, or jewellery into the test/interview venue.

Contact & Helpline

For technical queries on the Driver application form, call 8100091298; for Frash, call 9674785953 (both 11:00 AM–5:30 PM, working days). For queries on the terms and conditions of either advertisement, call 0172-2717605 (9:30 AM–5:00 PM, working days). These are the only official channels listed in the notification — the High Court will not contact candidates through any other number for payment or personal details.

Important Links

Common Questions

What is the last date to apply for Punjab and Haryana High Court Recruitment 2026?

Online applications for both Driver and Frash close on 18 September 2026 at 11:59 PM. The High Court has stated this cut-off is sacrosanct — no late applications are accepted.

Can I apply for both Driver and Frash?

The notification requires you to apply separately for each post you want to be considered for; a candidate may submit only one application per category, per post — if you submit multiple applications for the same post, the latest one is considered.

Does Frash require a specific educational qualification?

No. The notification specifies only knowledge of Hindi and the regional language for Frash — no formal educational qualification is prescribed, unlike Driver, which requires a 10+2 pass.

Is there an application fee, and is it refundable?

Yes — ₹1,000/₹800 for Driver and ₹700/₹600 for Frash depending on category and domicile, all non-refundable, with online transaction charges extra. Dependents of disabled/deceased Ex-servicemen are fee-exempt for Frash only.

Is the Driver post a written exam?

No. Selection for Driver is through a Practical Test-cum-Interview, not a written examination.

What if I fail an event in the Frash Physical Endurance Test?

Failing any one event (800m race, long jump, or high jump) disqualifies you from proceeding to the next event — there's no retake within the same test.

Is there age relaxation for SC/ST/BC candidates?

The notification confirms age relaxation for Ex-servicemen (defence service plus 3 years) but doesn't state a specific age relaxation figure for SC/ST/BC candidates beyond the reservation itself — check the official notification directly for any additional relaxation that may apply.

Where might I be posted if selected as Driver?

Primarily at the establishment of the High Court, but selected Driver candidates may also be posted at Delhi or in any district of Punjab and Haryana — Frash posting is confined to the High Court's own establishment at Chandigarh.

Browse every current opening in Chandigarh.