8.5 months pregnant aspirant allowed to take exam in her hometown

1,022 qualified for mains exam set to occur on November 19 in Bengaluru

Lady judicial officer to oversee exam for sole candidate at District Court in Mangaluru

In a rare move, the High Court of Karnataka has granted permission to a candidate participating in the Civil Judge mains exams to take the exam in her hometown of Mangaluru.

This exceptional decision was made due to the candidate being 8.5 months pregnant, facing challenges in traveling to Bengaluru, where the exam is originally scheduled.

The High Court issued a notification in March for the recruitment of 57 Judges, with preliminary exams taking place on July 23, 2023. Out of the 6,000 candidates, 1,022 qualified for the mains exam set to occur on November 19 in Bengaluru.

Nethravathi, an advocate from Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district, met the criteria for the mains exam. Considering her delicate health conditions during pregnancy, she formally requested the High Court to permit her to take the exam in her district rather than in Bengaluru.

The HC Committee for Direct Recruitment of Civil Judges, consisting of Justice P S Dinesh Kumar, Justice K Somashekar, Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav, Justice Ashok S Kinagi, and Justice M Nagaprasanna, reviewed her application and granted approval for her to write the exam in Dakshina Kannada district. Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale endorsed the Committee’s decision.

In response to the Committee’s directive and the Chief Justice’s approval, the Registrar of the High Court arranged for a lady judicial officer to oversee the exam for the sole candidate at the District Court in Mangaluru. This unprecedented accommodation demonstrates the court’s sensitivity to individual circumstances and its commitment to inclusivity.