V. Kameswar Rao
Hon'ble Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao | |
|---|---|
| 49th Chief Justice of Patna High Court | |
| Assumed office TBC | |
| Nominated by | Surya Kant |
| Preceding |
|
| Judge of Delhi High Court | |
| Assumed office 21 July 2025 | |
| Nominated by | B. R. Gavai |
| Appointed by | Droupadi Murmu |
| In office 17 April 2013 – 31 May 2024 | |
| Nominated by | Altamas Kabir |
| Appointed by | Pranab Mukherjee |
| Judge of Karnataka High Court | |
| In office 1 June 2024 – 20 July 2025 | |
| Nominated by | D. Y. Chandrachud |
| Appointed by | Droupadi Murmu |
| In office 30 May 2025 – 18 July 2025 | |
| Appointed by | Droupadi Murmu |
| Preceded by | N. V. Anjaria |
| Succeeded by | Vibhu Bakhru |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 August 1965 |
| Education | B.A. in Geography (Hons) and L.L.B from Delhi University |
Valluri Kameswar Rao (born 7 August 1965) is an Indian judge currently serving on the Delhi High Court.[1] He was also served as the judge of Karnataka High court from 1 June 2024 to 29 May 2025[2] where he also served as Acting Chief Justice from 29 May 2025,[3] until his repatriation to Delhi High Court.[4]
Education and background
Rao was born on 7 August 1965, his family hails originally from Andhra Pradesh. His parents were married in 1951, after which his father decided to relocate from Andhra Pradesh to New Delhi in 1954.[5] He laid his foundational higher education at Delhi University, where he initially earned a B.A. (Honours) degree in Geography in 1987 before pursuing his legal education and obtaining an LL.B. degree in 1990. During his collegiate years, he proved his academic prowess by being awarded the Certificate of Merit for ranking second in his college during the 1985–1986 term. He officially embarked on his professional legal journey upon enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in March 1991.[1]
Following his enrollment, Rao established a versatile and deep practice across several prominent judicial forums, regularly appearing before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, and the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in New Delhi. His multi-state litigating experience also extended to other major coastal high courts, including the Madras High Court and the Port Blair Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court. Over more than two decades at the bar, he earned significant acclaim for handling complex cases centered on service law, labour disputes, arbitration, constitutional matters, and administrative law. He frequently represented large public sector undertakings, major banks, and autonomous bodies, while also serving as an executive member of the Central Administrative Tribunal Bar Association. In recognition of his exceptional standing and mastery of the law, the Delhi High Court designated him as a Senior Advocate in January 2010.[6]
Career
His transition to the bench began when he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court on 17 April 2013, and he was later sworn in as a permanent judge on 18 March 2015. After more than eleven years of dedicated service in the national capital, he was transferred to the southern judiciary, where he assumed office as a Judge of the Karnataka High Court on 1 June 2024.[7] Demonstrating stellar administrative capability, he was subsequently appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court on 30 May 2025 following elevation of the then Chief Justice Nilay Anjaria to Supreme Court of India.[3] Following a highly praised, emotional farewell tenure in Karnataka, Justice Rao was formally repatriated to his parent court.[8] He returned to New Delhi and resumed his duties as a permanent judge of the Delhi High Court on 21 July 2025.[4]
Following his return to Delhi, the Supreme Court Collegium formally recommended him to be appointed as the permanent Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on6 August 2026. The apex judicial panel, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, cleared his elevation to fill the vacancy left in Bihar's top court, where Justice Sudhir Singh has been serving as the temporary Acting Chief Justice.[9]
References
- 1 2 "Justice V. Kameswar Rao | Welcome To Delhi High Court". www.delhihighcourt.nic.in. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ↑ "Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao assumes charge as Karnataka High Court judge". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
- 1 2 "Kameswar Rao to be acting CJ of Karnataka High Court". The Hindu. 2025-05-29. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- 1 2 PTI (2025-07-21). "Six new Judges take oath of office taking strength of Delhi High Court to 40". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
- ↑ "Karnataka HC culture is like coming closer to family roots: New judge". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ "Justice V. Kameswar Rao – Judge Profile". Caseon. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ "Kameswar Rao takes oath as High Court judge". The Hindu. 2024-06-01. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ Singh, Ratna (2025-07-19). "Unwavering support and love: Justice V Kameswar Rao bids teary-eyed farewell to Karnataka High Court". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 2026-08-09.
- ↑ Bench, Bar & (2026-08-09). "Supreme Court Collegium recommends Justice V Kameswar Rao as Chief Justice of Patna High Court". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 2026-08-09.