Hundreds of people taking part in the protest march in Shivamogga on Saturday, seeking a High Court Bench for Shivamogga.
| Photo Credit: S.K. Dinesh
Hundreds of residents took to the streets in Shivamogga on Saturday, demanding the establishment of a High Court Bench in the city. Representing various organisations and religious mutts, participants marched through the city in a show of solidarity with the ongoing agitation.Advocates in Shivamogga have been staging a dharna on the premises of the district court for the past 13 days over the same demand, drawing support from a wide cross-section of organisations. Saturday’s march, which began at the district court, was organised to mount pressure on the government.The protesters are demanding a dedicated High Court Bench to hear cases originating from Shivamogga and the neighbouring districts of Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, and Davanagere — together forming the central region of the State. They are strongly opposed to the proposal to include Shivamogga under a Circuit Bench at Mangaluru, arguing that it would offer no practical relief to litigants from the region. They have insisted on a separate, permanent Bench in Shivamogga.The march passed through Mahaveera Circle, Sir M.V. Road, B.H. Road, Shivappa Nayaka Circle, Nehru Road, and Balaraj Urs Road before concluding at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.Bekkina Kalmatha seer Mallikarjuna Murugharajendra Swamy, Basava Kendra seer Basava Marulasidda Swamy, High Court Bench Struggle Committee president K. Basappa Gowda, former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, Raitha Sangha State president H.R. Basavarajappa, Nagarika Hitarakshana Okkuta president K.V. Vasanth Kumar, and others. Published - May 30, 2026 08:23 pm IST
