Justice Nagarathna to Become India’s First Woman CJI
Appointed an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2008, she became a permanent judge two years later and joined the Supreme Court in 2021.
By : DC Web Desk
Update: 2025-05-28 13:06 GMT
Justice BV Nagarathna is set to become India's first woman Chief Justice on September 23, 2027, following her inclusion in the Supreme Court Collegium on May 25, 2025, after Justice Abhay S Oka's retirement. Known for bold verdicts, she quashed the remission of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case and opposed the 2016 demonetization, arguing it required parliamentary approval. She translated the Courts of India into Kannada and contributed to chapters on Karnataka's judiciary.
Currently fifth in seniority at the Supreme Court, Justice Nagarathna will remain in the Collegium, which handles judicial appointments and transfers, until her retirement on October 29, 2027. The Collegium includes Chief Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, J.K. Maheshwari, and BV Nagarathna. As the daughter of former Chief Justice E.S. Venkataramiah, she upholds a distinguished legacy. Born on October 30, 1962, she earned her law degree from Delhi University in 1987.
Starting her practice in Bangalore, she focused on service law, commercial cases, and constitutional matters. Appointed an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2008, she became a permanent judge two years later and joined the Supreme Court in 2021. She currently serves as Presiding Judge of the Bengaluru Mediation Centre and Karnataka Judicial Academy, advancing legal education and alternative dispute resolution.
Prabhash Kumar, University of Hyderabad, Intern.