Chief Justice KK Usha

Career

Justice Mrs. KK Usha enrolled as an Advocate in 1961 and practiced at various courts including High Court of Kerala, Civil Courts and Tax Tribunals and at the Supreme Court of India. She was appointed as Government Pleader in Kerala High Court, in 1979.

She was a successful lawyer in the High Court, Supreme Court of India and in Civil Courts and Tribunals on cases arising under Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Taxation and special statutes.

She represented India, in 1975, at the 18th International Convention of International Federation of Women Lawyers at Hamburg. She also represented India at the Joint Seminar on "Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination as regards women" organised by International Federation of Women Lawyers and International Federation of Women of Legal Careers (both having the status of non-governmental organisation in the United Nations) under the auspices of UNO.

In the committee constituted at the convention to consider the special circumstances of the women in Afro-Asian countries, she was elected as the Coordinator of Asian countries. She also attended the International Conference of the Women Judges in New Zealand in September 1993.

She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Kerala Bar Federation. She is the founder member of the Kerala Branch of India Federation of Women Lawyers and occupied the position of the Secretary and President.

She also worked as a member and President of University Womens Association, an organisation affiliated to the International Association of University Women and functioned as the member of various other womens organisations. From 1983 till March 1991, she was the Secretary of Sree Narayana Sevika Samajam, a charitable organization running home for girls and destitute women in Sree Narayana Giri, Aluva.

She was elevated as a Judge of the Kerala High Court on 25-3-1991. Kerala was the first state to have a lady judge in its High Court. Justice Mrs. Anna Chandy was the first one to hold that position, followed by Ms. Justice Janaki Amma and Ms. Justice Fathima Beevi, who went on to become the judge of Supreme Court of India.

Mrs. Justice KK Usha is the first lady to be appointed to that position in Kerala High Court from Bar. Justice K Sukumaran and Justice KK Usha are incidentally the first couple in India to be judges of the High Court.

Member: Advisory Board constituted under the COFEPOSA
Chairperson: Advisory Board under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act
Chairperson: Committee in Charge of Family Courts in Kerala.
Judge: In administrative charge of Thiruvananthapuram District subordinate judiciary