BENGALURU: Five new additional judges of Karnataka High Court assumed charge after being sworn in at a ceremony held at the High Court on Monday. They are Kempaiah Somashekar, Kotravva Somappa Mudagal, Sreenivas Harish Kumar, John Michael Cunha and Basavaraj Andanagouda Patil. All five were elevated from district judges category.
Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee administered the oath to them. CM Jagadish, president of Karnataka State Bar Council, introduced the new judges to the gathering and urged them to focus on quality judgments and live up to the expectations of people.
In his welcome address, Jagadish made a proposal before the judiciary to consider the talented advocates from District Bars for the post of judges to the High Court, like elevating them to the High Court.
“On this momentous occasion, I would like to take an opportunity to place the proposal of the District Bar before the High Court. Elevation of the judges to this court to provide an opportunity to the members of the District Bar may be kindly considered in right earnest. The talent of the District Bar cannot be ignored. There is no dearth of sincere and honest professionals in District Bar,” Jagadish said.
He further said, “Let there be change in appointment of judges to this court. Let there be an equal opportunity to everybody. The proposal to change is to build a robust judicial system.”
N K Sudhindra Rao, Registrar General (In charge), High Court, read out the appointment orders of the judges.
The newly appointed judges expressed their gratitude to those who helped them in their way to join higher judiciary and promised that they will keep up the faith reposed in them.
Profile of judges
Kempaiah Somashekar
DoB: September 15, 1963, native of Boodithittu village of Yelandur taluk in Chamarajanagar district. Studied at Chamarajanagar and Mysuru. Joined judiciary in 1998 as district judge.
Kotravva Somappa Mudagal
DoB: December 22, 1963, a native of Haveri. Studied at Hubballi, joined judiciary as district judge in 1998.
Sreenivas Harish Kumar
DoB: May 16, 1963, a native of Mandikal Village in Chikkaballapura taluk. Studied at Gudibande and Bengaluru. Joined judiciary as district judge in 2002.
John Michael Cunha
DoB: April 7, 1959, a native of Mangaluru. Studied at Calicut. Joined judiciary as district judge in 2002.
Basavaraj Andanagouda Patil
DoB: January 20, 1959, a native of Dharawad, studied at Dharwad. Joined judiciary as district judge in 2002.