Justice B. V. Nagarathna launches South Zone ‘Justice for Women’ conference in Bengaluru

Supreme Court Justice B. V. Nagarathna inaugurated the first South Zone Regional Conference on “Justice for Women” in Bengaluru on 8 August. The two‑day event, organised by the National Commission for Women, the Karnataka High Court and the Karnataka Judicial Academy, brought together senior judges, senior advocates, police officials and civil‑society representatives to examine women’s access to justice, legal‑aid mechanisms, implementation of gender‑sensitive laws and safety in public and digital spaces.

During her opening remarks, Justice Nagarathna urged that legal aid be provided immediately after an incident, proposing a coordinated framework linking State Legal Services Authorities, primary health centres, government hospitals and police stations. She highlighted that 414,795 women received legal aid between April 2025 and March 2026 and called for a study of outcomes rather than mere beneficiary counts. The judge also questioned recent Karnataka amendments that have removed the High Court’s jurisdiction over first appeals, raising concerns about women’s ability to seek redress under Article 136 of the Constitution.

The conference released a digital handbook titled “We the Women of India” and the guide “Breaking the Silence – A Complete Guide to Domestic Violence and the Law.”