On Saturday (August 1), the Dharwad Bench witnessed a rare milestone as all judicial benches were presided over by woman judges, while the State was represented exclusively by women law officers.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Karnataka High Court judge Anu Sivaraman has said that women’s perspectives should not be confined to a few specific categories of cases but should find representation across every branch of the legal system.
Inaugurating the Dharwad Bench Advocates’ Association at the High Court Bench in Dharwad on Saturday, Ms. Sivaraman said that women’s participation was essential in the adjudication of all categories of cases, including family disputes, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), service, taxation, civil and criminal cases.
“A judiciary becomes more comprehensive, equitable and just only when women’s perspectives are reflected across every field of law,” she said.
High Court judge P.S. Hemalekha said that the issue was not about reserving certain branches of law exclusively for women, as women had established themselves as gender-neutral professionals capable of discharging responsibilities on par with men. “There is no place for attitudes that regard women as inferior. Society must recognise women as equal professionals,” she said.
High Court judge S. Sunil Dutt Yadav said society should internalise the principle that women are equal to men and that there was no question of viewing them as inferior in any respect.
Judges including Jyoti Mulimani, Lalitha Kanneganti, Chinukuru Sumalatha, Tara Ganjoo, Rajeshwari N. Hegde, Geetha K.B., K.G. Shanthi, Narendra Prasad and P. Sreesudha and members of the bar were present.
All-women Benches
On Saturday (August 1), the Dharwad Bench witnessed a rare milestone as all judicial benches were presided over by woman judges, while the State was represented exclusively by women law officers.
The Advocate General’s office had constituted an all-women team of law officers to represent the State before the court. Additional Advocate General Pratima Honnapur led the team, with responsibilities distributed among Additional Government Advocates and High Court Government Pleaders appearing before seven specially constituted all-women Benches.
The law officers included Nandini Somapur, Pramodini Kishan, Savitramma, B.P. Radha, Sunita Sequeira, Mamatha Shetty, Mala B. Bhute, V. Hemalatha, R.K. Pratibha, V. Spoorthi, Girija Hiremath, Rashmi Patel, Rashmi Rao, Keerthilatha Patil, Ratnamala, S. Chandani, R. Soumya, Waheeda and Deepthi Alva.
The constitution of exclusive women Benches in a constitutional court is uncommon. The simultaneous appearance of only women law officers representing the State before every Bench made the occasion a significant milestone for both judiciary and legal profession.
A total of ten women judges presided over the day’s proceedings. Three Division Benches and four Single Benches, all headed by women judges, heard matters throughout the day.
The Division Bench comprising justices Anu Sivaraman and K.G. Shanthi dealt with preliminary hearings, applications, interim orders and final hearings in writ and civil matters. As notified by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru, the other Division Benches comprised justices Jyoti Mulimani and P. Sreesudha, and justices Lalitha Kanneganti and P.S. Hemalekha. Single Benches were presided over by justices Chinukuru Sumalatha, Tara Vitasta Ganjoo, Geetha K.B. and Rajeshwari N. Hegde.
Published – August 03, 2026 07:13 pm IST
