Rohtak, May 23 (IANS): Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday demanded either a separate high court for the state or an equal representation in the existing Punjab and Haryana High Court.

He also sought an additional bench of the high court for the south-western districts.

Speaking at the Students Legal Literacy Mission organised by the Haryana State Legal Services Authority at Maharshi Dayanand University here, he said a separate high court would be of great help to the people.

The chief minister suggested setting up a bench of the high court for the south-western region of the state.

He said about 1.40 lakh cases in Haryana and 1.25 lakh cases in Punjab are pending in various courts.

"Haryana is ahead of Punjab in many aspects but in terms of recruitment of judges the ratio of Haryana and Punjab (in the Punjab and Haryana High Court) is 40:60 whereas this should be 50:50," the chief minister said.

He said the state has made a provision of Rs.80 crore for the expansion of infrastructural facilities in the courts.

He said in all 21 districts and 14 sub-divisions of the state, mediation centres have been setup. Twenty one fast-track courts are functioning.

Punjab and Haryana High Court acting Chief Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar said people who have legal knowledge should help the weaker sections of society.

High court judge and chairman of the state legal service authority Justice Satish Kumar Mittal said the authority has a target to spread legal awareness among 10 lakh children. He said that the authority through the medium of children wanted to educate the people about their rights and responsibilities.