HC Circuit Bench in Shivamogga: BJP MP Raghavendra urges Karnataka Governor
Synopsis
Four-term BJP MP B.Y. Raghavendra has taken the Shivamogga High Court Circuit Bench demand directly to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, simultaneously pushing back against a proposal to link the district to a Mangaluru bench — a move legal bodies and civil society in the region strongly oppose.
Key Takeaways
Raghavendra submitted a formal representation to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on 23 June seeking a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga .
The proposed bench would serve litigants from Chikkamagaluru , Davanagere , and Chitradurga in addition to Shivamogga district.
Raghavendra opposed linking Shivamogga to the proposed Mangaluru Bench , calling Bengaluru the more practical judicial centre for the region.
Bengaluru Advocates' Association President Vivek Subba Reddy attended the meeting and backed the demand.
The Karnataka Governor's office has not yet formally responded to the representation.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP B.Y. Raghavendra, representing Shivamogga for a fourth consecutive term, has formally urged Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to intervene and direct the state government to expedite the establishment of a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga. The representation was submitted at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday, 23 June, with the MP arguing that the region's geographic and administrative profile makes it well-suited for such a judicial facility.
What the Demand Entails
Raghavendra contended that a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga would markedly improve access to justice for residents of the Malnad and Central Karnataka regions. He highlighted the city's standing as a major administrative, educational, commercial, and transportation hub, and argued that the proposed bench would serve litigants and legal professionals not just from Shivamogga district but also from neighbouring districts including Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere, and Chitradurga.
'Establishing a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga will make access to justice easier, more convenient and more effective for people across Malnad and Central Karnataka,' Raghavendra stated in his formal representation.
Opposition to the Proposed Mangaluru Bench Link
A significant portion of the MP's representation focused on resisting a separate proposal that would bring Shivamogga under the jurisdiction of a proposed circuit bench in Mangaluru. Raghavendra argued that such an arrangement would be geographically and logistically inconvenient for litigants from the region. He urged that, until a dedicated Shivamogga bench is constituted, the district should remain under the jurisdiction of the Principal Bench of the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru.
'From the perspective of accessibility and convenience, Bengaluru remains the most practical judicial centre for the people of Shivamogga. Linking the district to the proposed Mangaluru Bench may not adequately serve the interests and convenience of litigants from Malnad and Central Karnataka,' he said.
Broad Stakeholder Support
Bengaluru Advocates' Association President Vivek Subba Reddy was present during the meeting and expressed support for the demand. Raghavendra also noted that the call for a circuit bench in Shivamogga has been a long-standing one, consistently raised by members of the legal fraternity, bar associations, and civil society organisations across the region.
Notably, Raghavendra is the son of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, giving the representation a degree of political weight within the BJP's Karnataka apparatus at a time when the party is in opposition to the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) government in the state.
What Happens Next
The Governor's office has not yet issued a formal response to the representation. Any intervention by the Governor would require the state government to act, and the Congress-led administration's stance on the circuit bench proposal remains to be seen. The demand, backed by legal bodies and civil society, is likely to keep the issue in Karnataka's political and judicial discourse in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But Raghavendra's direct appeal to the Governor signals a deliberate escalation — bypassing the Congress-led state government and placing accountability on the Raj Bhavan. The simultaneous resistance to the Mangaluru bench linkage reveals a jurisdictional fault line that could shape Karnataka's judicial geography for decades. What mainstream coverage underplays is the political subtext: with Yediyurappa's son leading the charge, this is also a BJP effort to consolidate its traditional stronghold in the Malnad belt ahead of future electoral cycles. Whether the Governor acts or defers to the elected government will be the real test of how far this demand travels.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the demand for a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga?
It is a long-standing request for a permanent circuit bench of the Karnataka High Court to be established in Shivamogga city, aimed at reducing the need for litigants from Malnad and Central Karnataka to travel to Bengaluru for hearings. BJP MP B.Y. Raghavendra formally raised this demand with Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on 23 June.
Why is Shivamogga considered suitable for a High Court Circuit Bench?
Shivamogga has emerged as a major administrative, educational, commercial, and transportation hub in Central Karnataka, according to Raghavendra's representation. Its geographic centrality means a circuit bench there would serve litigants from multiple neighbouring districts including Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere, and Chitradurga.
Why is there opposition to linking Shivamogga to the proposed Mangaluru Bench?
Lawyers, litigants, and civil society groups in Shivamogga argue that Mangaluru is geographically less accessible than Bengaluru for residents of Malnad and Central Karnataka. Raghavendra has urged that Shivamogga remain under the Karnataka High Court's Principal Bench in Bengaluru until a dedicated local bench is established.
Who supported Raghavendra's representation to the Governor?
Bengaluru Advocates' Association President Vivek Subba Reddy was present at the meeting and expressed support. The demand also has the backing of bar associations and civil society organisations across the Shivamogga region, according to the MP's representation.
What happens after the representation is submitted to the Governor?
The Governor may choose to advise the state government to act on the demand, though the Congress-led Karnataka government's position on the circuit bench proposal has not yet been made public. A formal response from the Governor's office is awaited.
