In a significant judicial development, the Central Government officially confirmed Justice Siddaiah Rachaiah as a permanent judge of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Law (independent charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal, who took to his official X handle to share the news.
This appointment follows the recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium on October 15, signaling a swift administrative response to judiciary needs. Originally, the Collegium of the Karnataka High Court on August 6 had unanimously recommended Justice Rachaiah for permanent judgeship, underscoring his qualifications and the confidence the judiciary has in his capabilities.
As of October 1, the Karnataka High Court has been operating with 50 judges, which is below its sanctioned strength of 62. This leaves 12 positions vacant, a gap that the appointment of Justice Rachaiah helps to narrow slightly.
The elevation of Justice Rachaiah to a permanent position is expected to bring stability and added judicial capacity to the High Court, which handles a significant volume of cases. His appointment is seen as a crucial step towards optimizing the functioning of the judiciary in Karnataka, ensuring that the system can operate more efficiently and effectively.