B.Y. Raghavendra Demands Shivamogga High Court Circuit Bench
Four-time Shivamogga Lok Sabha MP B.Y. Raghavendra has appealed to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to advise the state government to establish a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga, citing the district’s extensive infrastructure and administrative readiness for the facility.
Key Highlights
- MP B.Y. Raghavendra formally petitioned Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot for a new judicial bench on Tuesday.
- The proposed circuit bench would serve litigants across Malnad and Central Karnataka, including adjacent districts.
- The leader rejected proposals to place Shivamogga under a planned Mangaluru bench, favoring Bengaluru until local demands are met.
- Bengaluru Advocatesβ Association President Vivek Subba Reddy accompanied the MP to support the legal fraternity’s push.
B.Y. Raghavendra, the son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, presented a formal appeal to the Governor at Raj Bhavan on June 23, 2026. He asserted that creating a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga would drastically enhance legal accessibility for residents throughout the Malnad and Central Karnataka territories.
The lawmaker emphasized the geographic privileges of Shivamogga, noting its rapid evolution into a primary commercial, educational, logistical, and administrative center. He stated that the judicial branch would deliver immense relief to lawyers and litigants from neighboring areas like Chitradurga, Davanagere, and Chikkamagaluru.
Raghavendra clarified in his official submission that launching this bench would make the administration of justice far more affordable, timely, and convenient for the regional population.
He further observed that bar associations, legal professionals, and local citizen coalitions have persistently championed this institutional demand for a long period.
During the Raj Bhavan meeting, Bengaluru Advocatesβ Association President Vivek Subba Reddy stood alongside the MP, adding institutional weight from the capital’s legal community to the regional demand.
Raghavendra additionally requested that Shivamogga remain strictly within the judicial territory of the Principal Bench of the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru until an independent local circuit bench materializes.
He explained that local citizens, legal practitioners, and public stakeholders have expressed deep reservations regarding administrative proposals to transfer Shivamogga into the jurisdiction of a projected bench in Mangaluru.
The MP remarked that Bengaluru continues to be the most viable and accessible judicial destination for the inhabitants of Shivamogga. He argued that tying the district to a Mangaluru bench would fail to accommodate the practical needs of Central Karnataka litigants.
The representative communicated the widespread local opposition against the Mangaluru merger directly to Governor Gehlot during their dialogue.
Raghavendra concluded that establishing the Shivamogga facility would uphold constitutional rights to justice, lower individual legal expenditures, and realize the historical ambitions of the local populace.
He reiterated that the institutional expansion would elevate the judicial delivery system, ease the financial strain on ordinary citizens, and answer a critical regional aspiration.
Future Outlook
The push for decentralized judiciary benches in Karnataka reflects a broader national trend aimed at decongesting state capitals and reducing the pendency of court cases. If the state government acts on the Governor’s advisory, the establishment of a Shivamogga bench will likely spark similar institutional demands from other rapidly growing urban centers in India. For Central Karnataka, the successful realization of this bench would transform local infrastructure and solidify the region’s status as a self-sustaining administrative core.
FAQs
Why is MP B.Y. Raghavendra demanding a High Court Circuit Bench in Shivamogga?
The lawmaker states that Shivamogga is a major transport, commercial, and educational hub that is fully qualified to host a bench. A local circuit bench would make legal recourse cheaper and geographically accessible for the residents of Malnad and Central Karnataka.
Which neighboring districts would benefit from the Shivamogga High Court Bench?
The proposed infrastructure would serve legal professionals and litigants from several adjacent districts, specifically Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere, and Chitradurga.
Why do Shivamogga stakeholders oppose the proposed Mangaluru Bench jurisdiction?
Local litigants and lawyers find traveling to Bengaluru more practical and accessible than traveling to Mangaluru. MP Raghavendra stated that shifting the jurisdiction to Mangaluru would undermine the convenience and financial interests of the local population.
