An eminent Jury headed by Justice Kedambady Jagannatha Shetty has finalised five winners under various categories for the Essel Karnataka’s Best Legal Service Award.

The winners are: Justice M F Saldhana who waged a virtual battle to save Bangalore’s greenery; Sarojini Muthanna who has emerged as a beacon of hope for the labour class; Former Advocate General B V Acharya who has all through exhibited his concern for poor litigants; Retired district Judge N S Sangolli who has initiated a major project to translate English law books into Kannada; and the Karnataka Legal Services Authority which has undertaken pioneering work in providing free legal aid to the poor.

One among the five finalists will be selected by the people of the State as Karnataka’s Best through tele-voting.

“We have received a tremendous response to this initiative from all over the State. We have been able to identify deserving candidates from remote areas of Karnataka,” said Dr M Gautham Machaiah, of Essel Group who is spearheading the Awards programme.

The Jury which was a mix of youth and experience comprised: Mr A N Jayaram, Former Additional Solicitor General of India; Prof V B Coutinho, Retired Vice Chancellor Gulbarga University; Mr D L Jagadeesh, President, Advocates Association, Bangalore; Mr K N Subba Reddy, President, Karnataka Federation of Advocates; Dr V T Vijayalakshmi, Principal, NMKRV College for Women and Vicky Nanjappa, Senior Correspondent, Deccan Herald. 

The Awards will be given away on June 22.