Karnataka High Court gets a Kannadiga Chief Justice after 27 years

Justice P.S Dinesh Kumar has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. This development comes in light of Justice P.B Varale being appointed as a Supreme Court judge. His tenure would however only last February 24th after which he will retire. 

The Supreme Court collegium had recommended his name to the Karnataka State Government on January 19th. A notification from the Law Ministry confirmed his appointment. He has served the High Court of Karnataka with distinction since his appointment. “In view of the fact that Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar...has a short tenure, in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, the Collegium resolves to recommend his appointment as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka,’ the collegium stated in its recommendation letter. 

Interestingly, after a period of 27 years, a Kannadiga has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. The first Kannadiga who had this privilege was S.A Hakeem. Dinesh obtained a degree in law in Karnataka. He served as a lawyer for many years before being appointed as a judge.