Dharwad High Court Creates History With Exclusive Women Led Benches and Legal Teams

The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court is set to witness a historic chapter as all court proceedings on Saturday will be conducted entirely by women led benches. In a rare and significant initiative, women judges will preside over the hearings while the Karnataka government will be represented exclusively by a team of women law officers. The move is being celebrated as a major milestone in promoting gender equality and strengthening women’s participation in the judicial system.

The initiative reflects a growing commitment to encouraging women in leadership positions across the legal profession. While women have steadily increased their presence in courts over the years, occasions where every judicial bench and the entire government legal representation are handled exclusively by women remain extremely uncommon. Legal experts believe this event sends a powerful message about equal opportunities and the changing face of the Indian judiciary.

The Advocate General’s Office has officially appointed a dedicated team of women legal officers to represent the state government before all seven special benches functioning at the Dharwad Bench. Additional Advocate General Pratima Honnapur will lead the legal team, coordinating government representation throughout the day. The decision is being viewed as an important recognition of the capabilities and achievements of women advocates serving the state.

According to the schedule, seven special benches will hear a wide range of matters during the day. These include both division benches and single judge benches handling writ petitions, civil matters, interim applications and final hearings. The arrangement has been made under the notification issued by the Chief Justice, highlighting the significance of the special judicial sitting.

Three division benches have been constituted to hear important matters. One bench includes Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice K G Shanthi, who will take up preliminary hearings, writ petitions, civil matters and final arguments. Another division bench consists of Justice Jyoti Mulimani and Justice P Sreesudha, while the third is led by Justice Lalitha Kanneganti and Justice K S Hemalekha. Together, these benches will oversee a substantial number of cases scheduled for the day.

In addition to the division benches, four single judge benches will also function throughout the day. These benches will be presided over by Justice Chellakuru Sumalatha, Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, Justice K B Geetha and Justice Rajeshwari N Hegde. The presence of ten women judges across these benches makes the event one of the most remarkable judicial initiatives witnessed at the Dharwad Bench in recent years.

The state government’s legal representation has also been carefully organized to ensure every bench has dedicated women advocates appearing on its behalf. Apart from Additional Advocate General Pratima Honnapur, the legal team includes Additional Government Advocates Nandini Somapur, Pramodini Kishan, Savitramma, B P Radha, Sunita Sequeira, Mamatha Shetty, Mala B Bhute, V Hemalatha and R K Prathibha.

The list of Government Advocates appointed for the proceedings also features V Spoorthi, Girija Hiremath, Rashmi Patel, Rashmi Rao, Keerthilatha Patil, Ratnamala, S Chandani, R Soumya, Waheeda and Deepthi Alva. Each advocate has been assigned responsibilities before specific benches to ensure smooth conduct of government litigation throughout the special sitting.

Senior members of the legal fraternity have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a landmark step that showcases the growing strength of women within the judicial system. They believe such events inspire young women studying law and encourage aspiring advocates to pursue careers in litigation and public service with greater confidence.

Legal observers point out that constitutional courts rarely witness proceedings where every bench is headed by women judges and all government arguments are presented solely by women advocates. This makes the Dharwad Bench initiative historically significant, not only for Karnataka but also for the broader legal community across the country.

The event also highlights the steady progress made toward greater gender representation in institutions traditionally dominated by men. Over the years, women have taken on increasingly important roles as judges, senior advocates and legal officers. This special sitting demonstrates how the judiciary continues to evolve while promoting diversity and equal participation.

Beyond its symbolic importance, the initiative is expected to strengthen public confidence in an inclusive justice delivery system. It reflects the belief that merit, professionalism and dedication remain the foundation of judicial administration regardless of gender. Court officials believe the special arrangement will also encourage discussions on expanding opportunities for women across all levels of the legal profession.

As proceedings continue throughout the day, the Dharwad Bench is expected to create a memorable chapter in Karnataka’s judicial history. The collaboration between women judges and women government advocates represents more than a ceremonial event. It stands as a strong statement about empowerment, equal opportunity and the increasing contribution of women to the administration of justice. The initiative is likely to be remembered as an inspiring example of institutional progress and a meaningful step toward a more inclusive judicial system.