Karnataka High Court Expands Bench with Six New Judges Sworn In

The Karnataka High Court welcomed six newly appointed additional judges on Thursday, increasing its total bench strength to 54. The newly sworn-in judges are Justices Raghavendra S. Srivatsa, Hema Kulkarni, Subramanya R., T.P. Vivekananda, B. Pramod, and H. Shanthi Bhushan.

Diverse Legal Expertise Among New Appointees

The six judges bring a wealth of legal experience and diverse expertise to the High Court.

Justice Raghavendra S. Srivatsa, born in Chickballapur in 1976, holds a law degree from University Law College, Bengaluru, and a postgraduate diploma in Cyber Laws from the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. After enrolling as an advocate in 1999, he practiced in Chickballapur courts and the Karnataka High Court before moving to the Supreme Court, where he was designated a senior advocate in January 2024.

Justice Hema Kulkarni, a native of Sedam in Kalaburagi district, graduated with third rank in her law degree from Gulbarga University and later earned a postgraduate degree in law from Nagarjuna University. Since enrolling as an advocate in 1999, she has represented clients in Kalaburagi courts and the Karnataka High Court. She has also served as a panel advocate for the Enforcement Directorate and the Department of Posts.

Justice Subramanya, born in Tumakuru district in 1975, holds degrees in commerce and law from Bengaluru. Enrolling as an advocate in 1999, he served as the State’s Additional Advocate General in 2019 and was honored with the Kempegowda Award in 2014 for his contributions to the legal field.

Justice T.P. Vivekananda, born in Mysuru district in 1977, began his legal practice in 2000 after completing his BA and LLB in Mandya. He has served as panel counsel for multiple urban development authorities and public sector bodies, including the Karnataka State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation.

Justice B. Pramod, also born in 1977, graduated from University Law College, Bengaluru, and began his legal career in 2000. His experience includes serving as panel counsel for the Central government and public sector organisations like the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Justice H. Shanthi Bhushan, born in Mandya district in 1977, holds an LL.M. from Kuvempu University. Enrolling as an advocate in 2005, he served as Deputy Solicitor General of India for the Karnataka High Court prior to his elevation. His previous roles include representing public sector organisations such as the Karnataka Public Service Commission and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company.

Why This Matters

The appointment of these six judges comes at a critical time for the Karnataka High Court, which has been working to address a backlog of cases. With the bench now strengthened to 54 judges, the court is better positioned to manage its caseload and deliver timely justice. The diverse backgrounds and expertise of the new judges are expected to enhance the court's ability to handle a wide range of legal issues.

Source: The Hindu