Archive · 25 Jul 2026
All-Women Judges to Preside Over Karnataka High Court Benches
On August 1, all benches of the Karnataka High Court’s Dharwad bench will be presided over exclusively by women judges.
This is a historic first for the court.
The Dharwad bench has seven benches in total: three division benches, each with two women judges, and four single benches, each with one woman judge.
The women judges presiding are Justices Anu Sivaraman, K G Shanthi, Jyoti M, P Sree Sudha, Lalitha Kanneganti, K S Hemalekha, Dr Chillakur Sumalatha, Tara Vitasta Ganju, Geetha K B, and Rajeshwari N Hegde.
This initiative was prompted by a request from the Dharwad Advocates’ Association to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru in March.
All benches of the Karnataka High Court’s Dharwad bench will be presided over exclusively by women judges on August 1.
The Dharwad bench has seven benches: three division benches and four single benches.
Three division benches will have two women judges each, and four single benches will be presided over by four women judges.
The women judges presiding are Justices Anu Sivaraman, K G Shanthi, Jyoti M, P Sree Sudha, Lalitha Kanneganti, K S Hemalekha, Dr Chillakur Sumalatha, Tara Vitasta Ganju, Geetha K B, and Rajeshwari N Hegde.
The initiative was prompted by a request from the Dharwad Advocates’ Association to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru in March.
- Who
- Women judges of the Karnataka High Court’s Dharwad bench
- What
- All benches presided over exclusively by women judges
- When
- August 1
- Where
- Dharwad bench, Karnataka High Court
- Why
- In light of International Women’s Day and to promote gender equality
Supporters of Gender Equality
Traditionalists
Gender Representation in Judiciary
Supporters of Gender Equality
This initiative promotes gender equality and representation in the judiciary, setting a positive example for other courts.
Traditionalists
Some may argue that the selection should be based solely on merit and experience, not gender.
- Date
- August 1
- Location
- Dharwad bench, Karnataka High Court
- Number of Benches
- 7
- Division Benches
- 3
- Single Benches
- 4
- Women Judges Presiding
- 10