Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale Sworn In as Supreme Court Judge

In a significant development, Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale of the Karnataka High Court has been sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud in a ceremony held at the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi on Thursday. With Justice Varale’s appointment, the Supreme Court has now reached its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. This follows the retirement of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on December 25, leaving the top court short of one judge.

The Supreme Court collegium, on January 19, recommended Justice Varale’s elevation, citing his extensive experience as a judge of the Bombay High Court since his appointment in 2008 and subsequently as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. The collegium emphasized that Justice Varale is the senior-most judge belonging to a Scheduled Caste among the high court judges. His elevation marks a historic moment for the Supreme Court, as for the first time, it will have three judges from the Scheduled Caste category, including Justices Gavai and CT Ravikumar.

Born on June 23, 1962, in Nipani, Karnataka, Justice Varale graduated in Arts and Law from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. He enrolled as an advocate in 1985 and was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in July 2008, later becoming a permanent judge. Serving in the Bombay High Court for 14 years, he was then appointed as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in October 2022. Notably, Justice Varale, belonging to the Scheduled Caste, proudly highlights his family’s connection to Dr. B R Ambedkar. This elevation adds another layer of diversity to the Supreme Court, reflecting the judiciary’s commitment to inclusivity.

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