President Appoints Additional Judges to Karnataka High Court under Article 224

<p>In a recent press communiqué, the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Law and Justice — Central government ministry that handles legal affairs, judicial administration, and law reform (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Law and Justice</span> announced that the <span class="key-term" data-definition="President — Head of State of India, exercises powers under the Constitution (GS2: Polity)">President</span> has exercised powers under <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 224 — Constitutional provision allowing the President to appoint additional judges to High Courts to cope with increased workload (GS2: Polity)">Article 224</span> to make three appointments to the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Karnataka High Court — The highest judicial authority in the state of Karnataka, part of India's High Court system (GS2: Polity)">Karnataka High Court</span>.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li><strong>Smt. Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde</strong> appointed as an <span class="key-term" data-definition="Additional Judge — A temporary judge appointed to a High Court for a limited term to address workload (GS2: Polity)">Additional Judge</span> effective from the date she assumes charge, serving until her <span class="key-term" data-definition="Superannuation — Retirement upon reaching the statutory age limit, here 62 years for High Court judges (GS2: Polity)">superannuation</span> on <strong>17 March 2028</strong>.</li> <li><strong>Smt. Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi</strong> appointed as an <span class="key-term" data-definition="Additional Judge — A temporary judge appointed to a High Court for a limited term to address workload (GS2: Polity)">Additional Judge</span> for a period of two years, from the date she assumes charge.</li> <li><strong>Shri Brungesh Mahadevappa</strong> appointed as an <span class="key-term" data-definition="Additional Judge — A temporary judge appointed to a High Court for a limited term to address workload (GS2: Polity)">Additional Judge</span> for a period of two years, from the date he assumes charge.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>The appointments are made under the President’s authority per Article 224, which allows for temporary judges to manage increased caseloads. The tenure of the two-year appointments ends automatically after the period unless extended. The first appointment is a permanent post until retirement, reflecting the need for a long‑term judicial presence.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding the constitutional provision of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 224 — Constitutional provision allowing the President to appoint additional judges to High Courts to cope with increased workload (GS2: Polity)">Article 224</span> is essential for GS 2 (Polity) as it illustrates the balance between executive power and judicial independence. The role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Law and Justice — Central government ministry that handles legal affairs, judicial administration, and law reform (GS2: Polity)">Ministry of Law and Justice</span> in communicating such appointments highlights administrative procedures. Knowledge of judicial appointments aids in answering questions on the Indian judicial system, separation of powers, and constitutional mechanisms.</p> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <p>Monitoring the performance of the newly appointed judges will be crucial to assess the effectiveness of additional judges in reducing case backlogs. Future appointments may follow a similar pattern, reinforcing the importance of Article 224 in maintaining judicial efficiency.</p>