Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 28: A significant step has been taken towards the establishment of a Karnataka High Court circuit bench in coastal Karnataka, with chief justice Vibhu Bakhru assuring that a committee would be constituted to examine the proposal and take necessary action.
This was disclosed by MLC and convenor of the High Court Coastal Circuit Bench Struggle Committee Ivan D’Souza, following a meeting between a delegation of the committee and the chief justice at his office in Bengaluru.
The delegation discussed the various views emerging from different coastal districts, inter-district consultations, and the challenges being faced in the demand for establishing a circuit bench in the region. The state government has already responded positively to the proposal and is prepared to provide the necessary infrastructure, D’Souza said.
During the meeting, the chief justice stated that he was aware of the need for a high court bench in the coastal region. He also assured the delegation that the request for constituting a committee to comprehensively examine the factual position, views of various districts, and other relevant issues would be considered. The committee will examine these aspects and facilitate further necessary action, he assured.
The delegation also explained in detail the need for a circuit bench to ensure that citizens of coastal Karnataka have quicker and easier access to justice. Principal district government pleader and PRO of the committee, M P Noronha, drew the chief justice’s attention to the need for establishing a circuit bench in the coastal region in light of a recent Supreme Court judgment emphasising the importance of bringing justice closer to the doorsteps of citizens.
The delegation included Mangaluru Bar Association president Jagadish Shenava, Udupi Bar Association president Ronald Praveen, former president of Mangaluru Bar Association Raghavendra Rao, and principal district government pleader M P Noronha, among others.
Widespread support for bench in Mangaluru
The demand for establishing a high court circuit bench in Mangaluru is receiving widespread support from members of bar associations across coastal Karnataka, members of the public, various organisations, social activists, and leaders of different political parties.
MLC Ivan D’Souza said the state government has been giving priority to various development projects in Mangaluru. In this context, the proposal for establishing a high court circuit bench is also expected to receive attention when the state cabinet meets in Mangaluru, along with issues concerning the overall development of the coastal region.
He reiterated that the state government is prepared to provide all necessary infrastructure for the establishment of the bench.
D’Souza further noted that the chief justice’s indication that he would visit again in September and hold further discussions on the proposal is a positive and encouraging development for the people of coastal Karnataka, who have been pursuing the demand for a circuit bench for many years.