High Court of Karnataka (Gulbarga Bench)
| High Court of Karnataka, Kalaburagi Bench | |
|---|---|
| ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟ್, ಕಲಬುರಗಿ ಪೀಠ | |
Interactive map of High Court of Karnataka, Kalaburagi Bench | |
| 17°18′50″N 76°47′51″E / 17.3139°N 76.7974°E | |
| Established | 31 August 2013 |
| Location | Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India |
| Coordinates | 17°18′50″N 76°47′51″E / 17.3139°N 76.7974°E |
| Composition method | Permanent bench; Presidential appointment on advice of the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of Karnataka |
| Authorised by | Constitution of India |
| Appeals to | Supreme Court of India |
| Judge term length | Mandatory retirement at age 62 |
| Number of positions | 5 (sanctioned) 3 (current) |
| Language | Kannada, English |
| Website | karnatakajudiciary |
The High Court of Karnataka, Kalaburagi Bench (Hindi: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟ್, ಕಲಬುರಗಿ ಪೀಠ)is a permanent bench of the Karnataka High Court established in 2013 to serve northern Karnataka, India.
History
The Kalaburagi Bench was approved as a permanent bench by the Government of India on August 30, 2013, following recommendations from the Chief Justice of India and consultations with the state government.[1] The bench was inaugurated on August 31, 2013 by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.[2]
The bench initially functioned from temporary facilities at the District Court complex,[3] and faced several challenges including:
- Jurisdictional questions raised through a 2011 PIL[4]
- Infrastructure deficits reported in 2016[5]
- A 17-day lawyers' boycott in 2015[6]
Jurisdiction
The bench serves all six districts of northern Karnataka,[7] including Bellary, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir.
Operations
The judicial strength of the court is summarised as:
| Year | Sanctioned | Actual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 2-3 | [8] |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | [9] |
Since 2018, the bench has maintained special arrangements during court vacations with rotating judges from the principal bench.[10]
A 2023 assessment noted that the court has dealt with 93,784 cases in the first decade of its operations,[11] delivered a reduction of forty percent of case backlog for the northern districts,[12] and improved access for women and marginalized communities.
See also
References
- ^ "Permanent Bench of Karnataka High Court at Dharwad and Gulbarga". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 30 August 2013.
- ^ "Gulbarga, Dharwad get permanent benches". The Hindu. 31 August 2013.
- ^ "Permanent bench of Karnataka High Court to be inaugurated on Saturday". The New Indian Express. 24 August 2013.
- ^ "Court admits PIL on jurisdiction of Gulbarga Bench". Times of India. 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Several issues haunt Kalaburagi Bench of HC". The Hindu. 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Lawyers in Kalaburagi High Court bench join indefinite boycott". The Hindu. 4 November 2015.
- ^ "HC's permanent bench in Gulbarga inaugurated". The New Indian Express. 1 September 2013.
- ^ "Shortage of judges hits work in Kalaburagi, Dharwad benches". The Hindu. 18 September 2017.
- ^ "Kalaburagi Bench of Karnataka HC functioning with just three judges". Bar & Bench.
- ^ "High Court judges to sit in Dharwad, Kalaburagi benches during vacation". The Hindu. 11 December 2018.
- ^ "Kalaburagi Bench of Karnataka High Court celebrates decennial of existence". The Hindu. 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Establishment of Dharwad and Kalaburagi benches created awareness on legal rights". The Hindu. 6 May 2023.