The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, currently serving in the Karnataka High Court, as the next Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.

This recommendation comes in view of the impending retirement of the current Chief Justice, Justice D. Krishnakumar, who is set to demit office on May 21, 2025.

In a resolution passed during its meeting held on May 15, 2025, the Collegium stated:
“The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 15th May, 2025 has recommended appointment of Mr. Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, Judge, High Court of Karnataka, as the Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur, consequent upon the retirement of Mr. Justice D. Krishnakumar on 21st May, 2025.”

Justice Somashekar enrolled as an advocate on January 27, 1990, and practiced primarily in the districts of Mysore and Chamarajanagar, handling a range of civil and criminal cases.

He entered the judicial service directly as a District and Sessions Judge on June 17, 1998. Over the years, he held several prominent judicial positions, including postings as Additional District and Sessions Judge in Bijapur (now Vijayapura) and at the City Civil Court in Bangalore.

Beyond his judicial responsibilities, Justice Somashekar played a significant role in the administrative functioning of the judiciary, serving as Registrar (Judicial) and Registrar (Vigilance) at the Karnataka High Court.

He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court on November 14, 2016, and was made a Permanent Judge on November 3, 2018.