Biography
Nikhita is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College of Law, Bengaluru, where she earned a B.A., LL.B and was the Valedictorian and Best Josephite Awardee of the Class of 2024. Her legal training includes internships with leading Senior Advocates at the Supreme Court of India, the High Court of Karnataka, and top litigation chambers and firms. She has engaged in field research on the living conditions of Devadasi women in Karnataka, volunteered with the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review process, and led civic education initiatives with NGOs and parliamentary fellowship programmes. Beyond her legal work, she has held several leadership roles as Convenor of the Environmental Law and Climate Justice Committee, the Legal Services Clinic, and the Mental Health Club and was a core member of the moot, editorial, and cultural committees.
During the past two years, Nikhita worked as a Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate to Hon'ble Mr Justice M. M. Sundresh at the Supreme Court of India. Her research has contributed to multiple Supreme Court judgments, including matters concerning juvenile justice, consumer protection, land acquisition, and constitutional interpretation.
A dedicated practitioner of the Indian classical arts, Nikhita is professionally trained in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic vocals, the Saraswati Veena, and the Harmonica. She holds a Vidwat in Bharatanatyam and is a graded artist of Doordarshan. She also volunteers with SPIC MACAY, an NGO working towards promoting Indian classical heritage amongst the youth. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of law and applied ethics. At Oxford, Nikhita will be studying the BCL.