In a first for the High Court of Karnataka, all the judicial Benches in the Dharwad Bench will function exclusively with 10 women judges of the High Court on August 1.

The one-day special Saturday sitting will see seven Benches at the Dharwad Bench presided over entirely by women judges.

The roster of sitting officially notified by court’s administration wing comprises three Division Benches and four Single-Judge Benches, making it one of the few instances in the country where an entire High Court Bench will conduct judicial proceedings only by women judges.

As per the High Court’s sitting notification, the three Division Benches will comprise Justices Anu Sivaraman and K.G. Shanthi, Justices Jyoti M and P. Sree Sudha, and Justices Lalitha Kanneganti and K.S. Hemalekha. The four single-judge Benches will be presided over by Justices Chillakur Sumalatha, Tara Vitasta Ganju, Geetha K.B., and Rajeshwari N. Hegde.

It is learnt that the Dharwad Bar Association had earlier requested the Chief Justice to organise all-women judicial Benches at Dharwad Bench to mark International Women’s Day but it could not be fructified then. Also, a conference of women judges of the High Court and the district judiciary of Southern states is likely to be held in the city during August.

Published - July 24, 2026 09:15 pm IST