HC allows 8.5-month pregnant candidate to write judge exam

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a first-of-its-kind arrangement, the High Court of Karnataka allowed a candidate appearing for the Civil Judge mains exams to write the exam in Mangaluru as she was 8.5 months pregnant and was unable to travel to Bengaluru.

The HC had issued notification for conducting the exams for recruitment of 57 judges in March this year.

The preliminary exams were held on July 23, 2023. Of the over 6,000 candidates, 1,022 were selected for the main exam scheduled on 18 and 19 November in Bengaluru.

Nethravathi, an advocate from Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada had qualified for the main exam. She submitted a requisition to the HC to allow her to write the exam in DK itself as she was unable to travel to Bengaluru having delicate health conditions being pregnant.

The HC Committee for Direct Recruitment of Civil Judges composed of Justice PS Dinesh Kumar, Justice K Somashekar, Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav, Justice Ashok S Kinagi and Justice M Nagaprasanna, after considering her application, has allowed her to write the exam in DK.

Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale has approved the decision of the Committee. Following a direction by the Committee and the Chief Justice, the Registrar of the HC has deputed a lady judicial officer to conduct the exam for the lone candidate at the District Court in DK, Mangaluru.