In a move signaling quiet continuity at the top of one of India’s northeastern judicial outposts, the Supreme Court Collegium has put forward Justice Kempaiah Somashekar for appointment as the next Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
This recommendation follows the impending retirement of Justice D. Krishnakumar, who will demit office on May 21. The Collegium, in its meeting on May 15, resolved that Justice Somashekar of the Karnataka High Court should step into the role.
Justice Somashekar’s judicial arc spans over three decades, beginning in 1990 when he first enrolled as an advocate. He made his mark across Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, straddling both civil and criminal briefs with equal ease. His transition from the Bar to the Bench came swiftly — by 1998, he had been directly appointed as a District and Sessions Judge.
He moved through the system with steady determination, presiding over courts in Bijapur (now Vijayapura) and Bangalore, while also playing key roles in the Karnataka High Court’s inner workings as Registrar (Judicial) and Registrar (Vigilance).
His elevation to the Karnataka High Court bench came in 2016 as an Additional Judge, and two years later, he was confirmed as a Permanent Judge.
Now, with Justice Krishnakumar’s tenure drawing to a close, the baton is poised to pass — and Manipur’s judiciary awaits its new helmsman.
