About Raja Lakhamagouda Law College Belgaum
Last Updated: August 2026 · Cross-checked against Karnatak Law Society's own published history
Raja Lakhamgouda Law College, Belagavi, was established in 1939 by seven eminent lawyers who founded the Karnatak Law Society — making it 87 years old and one of the oldest law colleges in India, genuinely predating India's independence by eight years. Affiliated to Karnataka State Law University (KSLU), Hubballi, the college was named after Raja Lakhamgouda Sardesai, the head of the former princely state of Vantamuri, who executed a Rs 1 lakh promissory note to support the founding of the institution.
Raja Lakhamgouda Law College — College Profile 2026
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| College Name | Raja Lakhamgouda Law College |
| Type | Private, Law |
| Established | 1939 |
| Affiliation | Karnataka State Law University (KSLU), Hubballi |
| Run By | Karnatak Law Society |
| Location | Belagavi, Karnataka |
| Courses Offered | LLB (3-yr, 180 seats), BA/BBA/BCom LLB (5-yr, 60 seats each) |
A Genuine Historical Correction Worth Noting
Some published sources cite Raja Lakhamgouda Law College's founding year incorrectly as being much more recent than its actual 1939 establishment. This is worth correcting clearly: the college was founded before India's independence, part of a specific, documented pre-independence movement in North Karnataka's legal community to make legal education accessible without requiring students to travel to Pune, Mumbai, or Kolhapur — a genuine barrier at the time given the region had no law college of its own. Understanding this true founding date matters for appreciating the institution's actual place in Indian legal education history, rather than treating it as a comparatively recent addition.
Founding Story — A Freedom Struggle Connection
Seven lawyers — N.S. Shrikhande, V.A. Naik, V.D. Belvi, B.N. Datar, S.N. Angadi, R. Kotbagi, and D.S. Paramaj — founded the Karnatak Law Society in 1939, several of whom were also active figures in India's freedom struggle. Many founding members and other regional legal scholars volunteered to teach at the college despite maintaining lucrative independent practices and extensive personal commitments — a genuine act of institution-building distinct from a purely commercial education venture. The college is specifically named after Raja Lakhamgouda Sardesai of Vantamuri, whose financial guarantee made the founding possible.
Courses and Admission
The college offers a 3-year LLB with 180 seats — a substantial intake reflecting its long-established capacity — alongside 5-year integrated BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BCom LLB programmes with 60 seats each. Admission follows KSLU's standard merit-based process for KSLU-affiliated colleges, without a separate college-specific entrance exam. This large seat capacity, especially for the standalone LLB, makes Raja Lakhamgouda one of the more accessible options in North Karnataka's legal education landscape by volume of available seats.
Facilities and Career Scope
The college maintains classrooms, computer labs, a playground, gymnasium, and a library building with a digital collection including Law Commission reports and Bare Acts, alongside internet, Wi-Fi, and CCTV infrastructure — reasonably modern facilities for an institution with an 87-year operating history. Separate hostels are available for men and women with medical facilities. Students have won championships in sports, debate, and elocution at national-level competitions. Given the college's near-century presence in Belagavi, its alumni network across North Karnataka's judiciary and legal profession is substantial, offering genuine informal professional connections for graduates planning to practise regionally.
Why the Founding Date Matters Practically
An 87-year operating history is a genuinely different institutional signal than a college founded a few decades ago, even beyond simple prestige. It typically means a multi-generational alumni base spanning the region's judiciary, senior advocates, and legal administrators — professional relationships that compound over decades in a way a newer institution's network simply cannot replicate yet, regardless of that newer college's current facilities or marketing. For students specifically evaluating North Karnataka law colleges on the strength of their alumni network and regional professional standing, this genuine historical depth is a concrete, measurable factor worth weighing directly, not just an appeal to tradition for its own sake.
Who Should Consider Raja Lakhamgouda Law College Specifically
This college suits North Karnataka students specifically seeking one of the region's oldest, most established legal education options, with a genuinely large seat capacity making admission more accessible than at smaller-intake colleges, and a straightforward KSLU merit-based admission process without a separate entrance exam. Its historical depth and founding connection to India's freedom struggle offer a distinctive institutional identity for students who value that legacy specifically, alongside the practical benefits of a long-established regional alumni network.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Raja Lakhamgouda Law College?
The college was established in 1939, making it 87 years old and one of the oldest law colleges in India — founded before Indian independence.
Who founded Raja Lakhamgouda Law College?
Seven lawyers who formed the Karnatak Law Society in 1939, with financial backing from Raja Lakhamgouda Sardesai of Vantamuri, after whom the college is named.
How many seats does the college offer?
180 seats for the 3-year LLB, and 60 seats each for the 5-year integrated BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BCom LLB programmes.
Is Raja Lakhamgouda Law College connected to KLE Society?
No, it's run by the separate Karnatak Law Society, a distinct trust from the KLE Society that runs B.V. Bellad Law College, also in Belagavi. Both are genuinely different institutions in the same city.
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