MLC seeks Justice Nagarathna for Mysuru Dasara inauguration
Dinesh Gooligowda, a Congress member of the Legislative Council and State vice-chairman of the Guarantee Implementation Authority, has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar requesting that Justice B.V. Nagarathna be invited to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara.
The memorandum, reported by The Hindu on September 18, highlights Justice Nagarathna’s contribution to the judiciary and underlines the symbolic importance of inviting her to the city’s premier cultural festival. The request gains additional resonance because Justice Nagarathna is expected to become India’s first woman Chief Justice next year, according to the report.
"Selecting Justice Nagarathna would be particularly significant, as she is set to create a milestone in the country’s judicial history by becoming India’s first woman Chief Justice next year," the memorandum said, as reported.
Justice Nagarathna has personal ties to the region: she hails from Ingalaguppe in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district. The memorandum also noted her family connection to the judiciary — she is the daughter of the late E.S. Venkataramaiah, who served as Chief Justice of India.
Local significance and protocol questions
Mysuru Dasara is the city’s chief cultural and tourism showcase, drawing visitors and dignitaries from across Karnataka and beyond. Invitations to inaugurate the festival traditionally reflect a mix of state protocol, cultural considerations and political signals. The memorandum from a senior MLC places a prominent judicial figure squarely in debates around who should be accorded that honour.
Inviting a serving Supreme Court judge to perform a public ceremonial role would raise protocol considerations, given the judiciary’s constitutional position and conventions regarding the separation of powers. The memorandum frames the invitation as recognition of Justice Nagarathna’s personal and regional links and her historic elevation to the apex of the judiciary.
- Regional pride: Justice Nagarathna’s Mandya roots are likely to resonate across southern Karnataka, including Mysuru, where Dasara is a major civic event.
- Precedent and protocol: Any decision will involve consultation with state protocol and possibly the judiciary to ensure it aligns with established conventions.
- Political optics: The memorandum, submitted to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, highlights how high-profile invitations to Mysuru Dasara reflect broader political and cultural messaging.
Background: key names and roles
| Person | Role / Connection |
|---|---|
| Dinesh Gooligowda | Congress MLC; State vice-chairman, Guarantee Implementation Authority; memorandum to CM |
| D.K. Shivakumar | Chief Minister; recipient of the memorandum |
| Justice B.V. Nagarathna | Supreme Court judge; hails from Ingalaguppe, Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district; expected to be India’s first woman CJI next year (as reported) |
| E.S. Venkataramaiah | Late former Chief Justice of India; father of Justice Nagarathna |
The memorandum did not specify dates or the mode of invitation. Any formal decision on inaugurating Mysuru Dasara will rest with the state government, which must weigh cultural considerations, ceremonial precedence and the potential implications of involving a sitting judge in a high-profile public role.
Mysuru’s Dasara, organised annually under state supervision, has in past years welcomed a range of personalities from politics, culture and public life. The present request places a jurist of national stature in that roster of invitees, reflecting both the festival’s stature and the region’s claim to national attention through its natives.
State officials did not provide an immediate response to the memorandum in the report. Further developments will be watched closely by cultural stakeholders in Mysuru, leaders in Mandya and those tracking conventions that govern interactions between the executive, legislature and judiciary.
