Shyamala Bhandary Becomes First Woman on Karnataka Bar Council

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 10 July 2026

Senior advocate Shyamala Bhandary has made history by becoming the first woman from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to be elected to the Karnataka State Bar Council. Elected in the recently concluded Bar Council elections in Bengaluru, her victory marks a significant milestone for women's representation in Karnataka's legal profession and recognises her longstanding contributions to law, public service, and women's empowerment.

Key Highlights

• Shyamala Bhandary is elected to the Karnataka State Bar Council
• First woman from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi to achieve the feat
• Senior advocate is known for her legal leadership and social contributions

A resident of Kundapur, Bhandary has earned widespread respect within Karnataka's legal fraternity through her distinguished career as an advocate and her active involvement in social and educational initiatives. Alongside her legal practice, she has consistently worked to promote women's leadership and has contributed to several organisations dedicated to social development. She currently serves as the President of the Karnataka State Notary Advocates Association, reinforcing her leadership role within the state's legal community.

Her election to the Karnataka State Bar Council follows another landmark achievement in May 2025, when she became the first woman President of the Karnataka State Notaries Association. Over the years, Bhandary has held several prominent public positions, including Syndicate Member of Mangalore University, member of the Karnataka State Women's Commission, member of an advisory committee under the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, director of the Dakshina Kannada Women's Cooperative Bank, and legal advisor to various women's organisations. Her experience across legal, academic, and public institutions has established her as a prominent advocate for gender equality and community development.

The Karnataka State Bar Council is the statutory body responsible for regulating the legal profession in the state. Constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961, and functioning under the Bar Council of India, it oversees the enrolment of advocates, maintains professional standards and ethics, and conducts elections for its governing body. Advocates enrolled with the Council are eligible to appear for the All India Bar Examination, which enables them to practise before High Courts and subordinate courts across India.

Members of the Council are elected from among practising advocates enrolled in Karnataka and also represent the state at the Bar Council of India. Under the Advocates Act, a state bar council with more than 10,000 advocates on its rolls must have at least 25 members. Karnataka currently has 27 elected members, who subsequently elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman for a two-year term.

Apart from its regulatory responsibilities, the Karnataka State Bar Council has undertaken several welfare initiatives for advocates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it provided financial assistance to hundreds of lawyers affected by the crisis and appealed to the state government for additional support after prolonged court closures impacted legal professionals. The Council has also advocated for judicial reforms, including the establishment of a separate bench for South India.