Karnataka High Court Announces Final Selection of 83 Civil Judges
The Karnataka High Court, on Tuesday, officially notified the final selection of eighty-three candidates for appointment as civil judges. This significant announcement follows the competitive written examination held in December 2025 and the subsequent viva-voce interviews conducted in January 2026.
Selection Process and Legal Framework
The selection was meticulously carried out in strict accordance with the Karnataka Judicial Services (Recruitment) Rules, 2004, along with all subsequent amendments. The final merit list was prepared based on a comprehensive evaluation of candidates' performance in both the written examination and the personal interview stages.
Category-Wise Breakdown of Appointments
Of the eighty-three successful candidates, thirty-five were selected under the General Merit category. This category includes various important sub-quotas such as Women, Rural candidates, Kannada Medium students, Ex-servicemen, Persons with Disabilities, and Transgender individuals.
Twenty-five candidates were selected from the Scheduled Caste category, while ten candidates were chosen from the Scheduled Tribe category. The remaining thirteen candidates belonged to the Other Backward Classes category.
Gender Representation and Diversity
Women candidates secured a particularly significant share in these appointments, with thirty-eight female candidates selected. This represents nearly half of the total appointments, showcasing strong gender representation in the judicial services.
Forty-three male candidates were appointed, and notably, two candidates were selected under the Transgender quota, highlighting the inclusive nature of the selection process.
Notable Appointments from Koppal District
Among the selected candidates, two individuals from Gangavathi in Koppal district have been appointed as civil judges. Santosh Belagod and Savita Vandal, both twenty-six years old, successfully cleared the examination on their very first attempt.
Senior advocate Doddabasappa Halasamudra and physician Dr. Shivanand Bhavikatti expressed their immense joy and congratulations regarding the selection of these candidates, reflecting community support for the new judicial appointments.
The appointment of these eighty-three civil judges marks an important step in strengthening the judicial infrastructure of Karnataka, ensuring that qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds contribute to the state's legal system.
