CM Shivakumar attends swearing-in of 6 new Karnataka HC judges
Synopsis
Six additional judges were sworn in to the Karnataka High Court at Lok Bhavan on 9 August 2026, with CM D.K. Shivakumar, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, and Chief Justice Vibhu Bhakru in attendance. The appointments are expected to help address case pendency in the state.
Key Takeaways
Six new additional judges were sworn in to the Karnataka High Court at Lok Bhavan on 9 August 2026 .
The newly sworn-in judges are Raghavendra Sitaram Shrivats, Hema Kulkarni, Subramanya Rangarao, Tadagavadi Prakash Vivekananda, Bakkeshwara Pramod, and Hombegowda Shanti Bhushan .
Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot administered the oaths; Chief Justice Vibhu Bhakru was also present.
Shivakumar attended the ceremony and congratulated all six judges.
High court appointments in India follow the collegium system of judicial recommendations and central government approval.
Six new additional judges took their oaths at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru on Sunday, 9 August 2026, expanding the bench of the Karnataka High Court — and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was in the front row to witness it.
The ceremony brought together the state's top constitutional authorities: Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot administered the oaths, with Chief Justice Vibhu Bhakru of the Karnataka High Court also present at the event held inside Lok Bhavan.
The six judges who took the bench
The newly sworn-in additional judges are Raghavendra Sitaram Shrivats, Hema Kulkarni, Subramanya Rangarao, Tadagavadi Prakash Vivekananda, Bakkeshwara Pramod, and Hombegowda Shanti Bhushan. Chief Minister Shivakumar extended his congratulations to all six after the ceremony, as the Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka confirmed on X.
Why these appointments matter for Karnataka's courts
High court appointments in India flow through the collegium system — a process of judicial recommendations followed by central government approval — before culminating in a swearing-in ceremony like this one. Adding six additional judges in a single sitting is a meaningful push against the chronic backlog of cases that burdens most state high courts.
For Karnataka, where litigants routinely wait years for hearings, a stronger bench translates directly into faster justice. Whether these appointments move the needle will depend on how quickly the new judges are confirmed to full-time positions and whether the court's overall sanctioned strength keeps pace with demand.
Point of View
But it also underscores the Congress government's interest in being seen as a partner in strengthening state institutions. The real test will be whether these 'additional' designations are converted to permanent positions before the judges' terms lapse.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the six new additional judges of Karnataka High Court sworn in 2026?
The six newly sworn-in additional judges of the Karnataka High Court are Raghavendra Sitaram Shrivats, Hema Kulkarni, Subramanya Rangarao, Tadagavadi Prakash Vivekananda, Bakkeshwara Pramod, and Hombegowda Shanti Bhushan. They were sworn in on 9 August 2026 at Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru.
Who administered the oath to the new Karnataka High Court judges?
Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot administered the oath to the six new additional judges of the Karnataka High Court at the ceremony held at Lok Bhavan on 9 August 2026.
What is the collegium system for High Court judge appointments in India?
The collegium system is the process by which the Chief Justice of India and senior Supreme Court judges recommend candidates for appointment to high courts. The central government then processes and approves these recommendations before a formal oath ceremony takes place.
What is the difference between an additional judge and a permanent judge in an Indian High Court?
Additional judges in Indian High Courts are appointed for a fixed term, typically up to two years. They can be confirmed as permanent judges through a separate collegium recommendation and central government approval process before their term expires.
Why was CM DK Shivakumar present at the Karnataka High Court swearing-in ceremony?
As Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar attended the swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan as a constitutional courtesy and to congratulate the six newly appointed additional judges of the Karnataka High Court.
