Bengaluru: Five additional judges were appointed to the High Court of Karnataka on Monday, increasing the number of judges to 30.
The swearing in of the five additional judges took place on Monday. Justices Kempaiah Somashekar, Kotravva Somappa Mudagal, Sreenivas Harish Kumar, John Michael D’Cunha, and Basavaraj Andanagouda Patil took oath as additional judges on their elevation to the High Court from the cadre of senior district judges.
Brief profiles of the five new judges
Justice Somashekar from Chamarajanagar district, joined the judicial service as district judge in 1998 and served in different positions. He was serving as the Principal District and Sessions judge till his elevation.
Justice Mudagal from Haveri district joined the judicial service in 1998. She served in various positions, including Principal Secretary, Law and Justice Department on deputation to the State government. She was serving as the Principal District and Sessions judge, Mysuru, till recently.
Justice Harish Kumar from Chikkaballapura district joined the judicial service in 2002 and served in different districts. He was serving as the Director, Karnataka Judicial Academy, till recently.
Justice D’Cunha from Mangaluru joined the judicial service in 2002 and served in many districts, besides being one of the judges of the Special Court, which had tried Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case. He had convicted her in the case but the High Court acquitted her by reversing his verdict. He was serving as Registrar General of the High Court till his elevation.
Justice Patil from Dharwad district, also served as special judge of the Lokayukta and CBI cases, besides as Registrar of administration, judicial, and Registrar General of the High Court. He was serving as Registrar (Vigilance) till his elevation.
