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Strengthening the Bench: Centre Appoints Three to
In a significant move to bolster the of the , the , , has officially notified the appointment of three new . This development, aimed at addressing the increasing in the state’s highest court, follows recommendations made by the Collegium during its meeting on .
Enhancing Judicial Capacity in Karnataka
The , which has been operating with 45 judges against a of 62, currently faces a shortfall of 17 judges. The appointment of Smt. Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Smt. Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Shri Brungesh Mahadevappa is part of an ongoing national effort to ensure the expeditious delivery of justice by filling these crucial vacancies.
Constitutional Mandate and Appointments
The appointments were executed by the President of India, exercising the powers conferred by . This provision allows for the appointment of to High Courts to manage temporary increases in business or arrears of work.
Under the terms stipulated in the notification: * Smt. Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde will serve as an Additional Judge until , coinciding with her date of . * Smt. Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi and Shri Brungesh Mahadevappa have been appointed for a fixed tenure of two years, effective from the date they assume their respective offices.
Voices from the Centre
The appointments were welcomed by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, who took to social media to convey his best wishes to the newly appointed judges. The , represented by Joint Secretary Jagannath Srinivasan, confirmed that the formal notification ensures the immediate procedural integration of these jurists into the Karnataka judicial system.
Key Observations
The notification formalizing these appointments states the following:
"In exercise of the power conferred by , the President is pleased to appoint... to be of the with effect from the date they assume charge..."
The move comes at a time when the judiciary is undergoing a period of transformation, underlined by the recent (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, which expanded the of the to address national case backlogs.
Implications for the Legal Landscape
By installing these three appointments, the gains much-needed relief in its daily judicial operations. For the legal community, this decision underscores the government's continued commitment to the Collegium’s recommendations, signaling a collaborative approach between the executive and the judiciary to maintain the efficiency of the High Court. As the new judges prepare to take the oath, the focus remains on reducing the 17-judge vacancy gap, ensuring that the wheels of justice continue to turn effectively across Karnataka.
