V. Kameswar Rao

Valluri Kameswar Rao (born 7 August 1965) is an Indian judge currently serving on the Delhi High Court. He was also served as the judge of Karnataka High court from 1 June 2024 to 29 May 2025 where he also served as Acting Chief Justice from 29 May 2025, until his repatriation to Delhi High Court.

Education and background Rao was born on 7 August 1965, his family hails originally from Andhra Pradesh. His parents were married in 1951, after which his father decided to relocate from Andhra Pradesh to New Delhi in 1954. He laid his foundational higher education at Delhi University, where he initially earned a B.A. (Honours) degree in Geography in 1987 before pursuing his legal education and obtaining an LL.B. degree in 1990. During his collegiate years, he proved his academic prowess by being awarded the Certificate of Merit for ranking second in his college during the 1985–1986 term. He officially embarked on his professional legal journey upon enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in March 1991.

Career His transition to the bench began when he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court on 17 April 2013, and he was later sworn in as a permanent judge on 18 March 2015. After more than eleven years of dedicated service in the national capital, he was transferred to the southern judiciary, where he assumed office as a Judge of the Karnataka High Court on 1 June 2024. Demonstrating stellar administrative capability, he was subsequently appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court on 30 May 2025 following elevation of the then Chief Justice Nilay Anjaria to Supreme Court of India. He returned to New Delhi and resumed his duties as a permanent judge of the Delhi High Court on 21 July 2025.