Jatti was born in a Kannadiga Lingayat family at Savalgi in Jamkhandi Taluk of Bagalkot district on 10 September 1913.[1] His father was a humble grocer. He braved family difficulties and completed his education. After completing his graduation in Law from Rajaram Law College in Kolhapur, then affiliated with the University of Bombay, he began his legal practice as an advocate for a very short span of time in his home town Jamkhandi.[2]