Karnataka HC gets 3 new additional judges; 17 vacancies remain
Synopsis
Karnataka High Court gets three new additional judges — Justice Hegde, Justice Shanthi, and Justice Mahadevappa — but still operates with 17 of 62 sanctioned posts vacant. The appointments arrive as the Centre simultaneously expands the Supreme Court's bench strength from 33 to 37, signalling an unusually broad judicial strengthening push across both court tiers.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde , Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi , and Brungesh Mahadevappa as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court .
Justice Hegde will serve until 17 March 2028 ; Justices Shanthi and Mahadevappa each received a two-year term .
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended all three following a meeting on 14 April .
The Karnataka High Court has 17 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 62 judges .
Separately, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 raised apex court bench strength from 33 to 37 , excluding the CJI.
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed three judicial officers as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on 30 May. The appointments were made in exercise of constitutional powers and after consultation with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, filling part of a significant vacancy gap at the court.
Who Has Been Appointed
Justice Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Brungesh Mahadevappa have been named as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court. The formal notification was issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice's Department of Justice (Appointments Division), with Union Joint Secretary Jagannath Srinivasan signing the order.
Justice Hegde will serve until 17 March 2028, the date of her superannuation. Justices Shanthi and Mahadevappa have each been granted a two-year term as additional judges, effective from the date they assume office.
Collegium Recommendation and Background
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended all three appointments following a meeting held on 14 April. The Karnataka High Court is currently functioning with 45 judges against a sanctioned strength of 62, leaving 17 vacancies — a shortfall that has contributed to rising case pendency in the state.
Wider Judicial Strengthening Drive
The Karnataka appointments are part of a broader national push to address judicial vacancies and mounting caseloads. On 27 May, the Supreme Court Collegium separately recommended the elevation of four High Court Chief Justices and a senior advocate as judges of the apex court.
This comes amid a significant legislative move: President Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, raising the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The ordinance followed Union Cabinet approval of a proposal to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and is aimed at accelerating the disposal of pending cases at the apex court.
What Minister Meghwal Said
Announcing the Karnataka appointments in a post on social media platform X, Meghwal said the appointments were made by the President under the powers conferred by the Constitution and after consultation with the CJI. 'I convey my best wishes to them,' he added.
What Comes Next
With 17 vacancies still outstanding at the Karnataka High Court, further appointments are expected as the Collegium continues its review of eligible candidates. The combined effect of new High Court appointments and the expanded Supreme Court bench is expected to improve disposal rates, though critics note that filling sanctioned strength alone does not resolve structural delays in the justice delivery system.
Point of View
Where High Courts collectively operate well below sanctioned strength. The simultaneous ordinance expanding the Supreme Court bench is a rare instance of executive and collegium action moving in the same direction at the same time, yet the structural problem is less about numbers than about the pace of appointment itself. Vacancies persist for months, sometimes years, because the collegium-government consultation cycle lacks binding timelines. Until that process is reformed, headline announcements of new judges will continue to lag the accumulation of fresh pendency.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the three new Additional Judges appointed to the Karnataka High Court?
The three newly appointed Additional Judges are Justice Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Brungesh Mahadevappa. Their appointments were made by President Droupadi Murmu under constitutional powers after consultation with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
How long will the new Karnataka HC judges serve?
Justice Hegde will serve until 17 March 2028, when she attains superannuation. Justices Shanthi and Mahadevappa have each been given a two-year term as additional judges, beginning from the date they assume office.
How many vacancies remain at the Karnataka High Court?
The Karnataka High Court currently has 17 vacancies, functioning with 45 judges against a sanctioned strength of 62. The three new appointments will reduce the gap, but significant vacancies remain.
What is the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026?
It is an ordinance promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu that raises the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The move follows Union Cabinet approval to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and is aimed at reducing case pendency at the apex court.
Who recommended the Karnataka HC appointments?
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended all three appointments following a meeting held on 14 April. The formal notification was subsequently issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice's Department of Justice (Appointments Division).
