10 women judges hear cases at Dharwad HC bench for the first time, create history

DHARWAD: The Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court created history on Saturday as, for the first time in the judicial system, 10 women judges handled three division benches and four single-judge benches.

With the aim of promoting gender representation and women’s empowerment in the higher judiciary, the Dharwad High Court bench has drawn the attention of the entire country by giving precedence to women judges, women lawyers, and women staff.

In the background of International Women’s Day, the Dharwad Bar Association had submitted a request to the Chief Justice when he visited the Dharwad High Court, asking for representation for women. They requested that for one day, women judges be allowed to work in 10 benches.

The Chief Justice responded positively to this. Accordingly, on Saturday, women judges performed duty in all 10 benches of the Dharwad High Court bench. The speciality was that on this day, women lawyers and women staff performed duty in every court hall, and more petitions related to women were heard.

In the three division benches, the bench comprising Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice K G Shanthi heard writ and civil cases in all division benches. As per the notification, three division benches headed by Senior Justice Anu Sivaraman, Justice K G Shanthi, Justice Jyoti Mulimani, Justice P. Srisudha, Justice Lalita Kennaganti, and Justice K S Hemalekha conducted proceedings.

In the single-member benches, Justice Chellakuru Sumalatha, Justice Tarawithasth Ganju, Justice K B Geetha, and Justice Rajeshwari Hegde performed duty. Each bench took up 60 cases, and a total of 420 cases were heard on Saturday at the Dharwad High Court bench.

This was a historic day, and there is no other example in the entire country where 10 benches were handled by women judges. The Dharwad High Court bench’s decision, taken with the aim of promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, has been appreciated everywhere.

A notable fact was that women worked in the court throughout the day. Members of the Bar Associations of the eight districts under the jurisdiction of the Dharwad High Court honoured and felicitated all the women judges who were part of this initiative. Members of the Bar Associations from all eight districts also participated in the programme.