Founder

JUSTICE K. S. HEGDE

Founder (1909–1990)

Justice K. S. Hegde was a distinguished jurist, parliamentarian, philanthropist and visionary educationist whose contributions to public service and education continue to inspire generations. Born in Kowdoor village, he completed his early education in Karkala and Mangaluru before pursuing higher studies at Presidency College, Madras, where he earned a B.A. (Honors) in Economics. He later obtained a Law degree from the Government Law College, Madras.

Beginning his legal career in Karkala in 1936, Justice Hegde went on to hold several prestigious positions in India's judicial and political landscape. He served as the Public Prosecutor of South Kanara district, a Member of the First Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and represented India at the United Nations General Assembly in 1954. His distinguished judicial career saw him serve as a Judge of the Mysore High Court, the first Chief Justice of the Delhi and Himachal Pradesh High Court and later as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. In 1977, he was elected to the Lok Sabha and subsequently served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha until 1980.

Following an illustrious career in public service, Justice K. S. Hegde dedicated himself to the upliftment of rural communities. Guided by his belief that education is the foundation of societal progress, he established Nitte Education Trust (NET) in 1979 with the vision of making quality education accessible and empowering future generations. His enduring legacy continues to shape thousands of lives through the institutions founded under his leadership.