Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholarship at SoLJ
The Bengaluru School of Law and Justice (SoLJ) is pleased to announce the institution of the Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship to be awarded annually to one B.A., LL.B. student enrolled and studying at SoLJ, beginning with the founding cohort of the School
This prestigious scholarship has been instituted by Mr. Devashish Bharuka, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, on behalf of The Bharuka Trust, in honour of his father, Justice G. C. Bharuka, former Judge of the High Courts of Patna and Karnataka, and former Acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.
Justice G. C. Bharuka served with distinction as a Judge of the High Courts of Patna and Karnataka and as Acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court (1990–2003). He pursued doctoral research at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, and was awarded a Ph.D. in 2003. His doctoral work was published as Rejuvenating Judicial System through E-Governance & Attitudinal Change.
Following his retirement, Justice Bharuka was appointed the first Chairman of the E-Committee, Supreme Court of India (2005), where he played a seminal role in framing the National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology in the Indian Judiciary, laying the foundation for the digitisation of courts across India.
He also served as Visiting Faculty at the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, and as a Member of the Governing Body of Chanakya National Law University, Patna.
A book authored by Justice G. C. Bharuka and Mr. Devashish Bharuka, titled The Indian Makeover: From Being Ruled to Being Governed, was launched on 8 December 2023. The book was formally released by Justice P. S. Narasimha, Judge, Supreme Court of India, with Shri Tushar Mehta, Learned Solicitor General of India, as the Guest of Honour.
Justice Bharuka is widely respected for his unwavering commitment to constitutional values, judicial integrity, and access to justice. Instituting a scholarship in his name seeks to honour his legacy while inspiring young law students to pursue the profession with intellectual rigour, ethical clarity, and public responsibility
Purpose and Significance of the Scholarship
As SoLJ takes shape, the School seeks to establish defining scholarships that reflect its founding values. The Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholarship is envisioned as one such foundational award.
The scholarship aims to:
● Recognise outstanding academic merit and intellectual excellence
● Honour students who demonstrate leadership, initiative, and commitment beyond the classroom
● Encourage a deep and sustained engagement with justice, ethics, and public service
● Contribute to SoLJ’s founding legacy by supporting one exemplary student each year
The scholarship covers 100% of the applicable annual tuition fee at SoLJ for one academic year.
Nature of the Scholarship
● Type: Merit-based, full-tuition scholarship
● Coverage: 100% of the applicable annual tuition fees
● Number of Awards: One (1) student per academic year
● Duration: One academic year
● Awarded to: One B.A., LL.B. student enrolled and studying at the Bengaluru School of Law and Justice
● Application Deadline: 30 April 2026
● Announcement of Scholarship: November 2026
The Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholars’ Community
While the financial award under the Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholarship is for one academic year, recipients of the scholarship shall be recognised as Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholars for life. Scholars will become part of a distinguished and enduring community associated with SoLJ and the legacy of Justice G. C. Bharuka.
This community is envisioned as a platform for continued engagement through curated events, lectures, mentorship opportunities, scholarly and professional activities, and other initiatives that foster intellectual growth, ethical leadership, and public purpose across the course of the Scholars’ legal education and professional lives
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
● Enrollment Status: Must be enrolled in and pursuing the B.A., LL.B. programme at SoLJ at the time of consideration.
● Academic Excellence: Demonstrated strong and consistent academic performance throughout their academic record.
● Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular Engagement: Meaningful participation in activities such as debates, moots, Model United Nations, legal literacy initiatives, social justice work, student leadership, sports, arts, or other recognised achievements. Depth of involvement and impact will be prioritised over mere participation.
● Personal Motivation and Values: Demonstrated commitment to justice, fairness, ethics, and the public good, consistent with the ideals exemplified by Justice G. C. Bharuka.
The Justice G. C. Bharuka Scholarship forms an integral part of SoLJ’s founding ethos and institutional identity.
This scholarship stands as a meaningful link between Justice G. C. Bharuka’s legacy and the education of future lawyers at the inception of the Bengaluru School of Law and Justice (SoLJ), a law school committed to justice, excellence, and public purpose.
