(a) the details of the norms to set up the High Court Benches;
(b) whether various State Governments have submitted proposals for establishment
of High Court benches in their respective States including Madhya Pradesh;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the time by which the said benches are likely to be established?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE AND COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)
(a) Setting up of Benches of a High Court is considered by the Government of India after receipt
of a complete proposal from the State Government, which has to have the consent of the Chief
Justice of the concerned High Court and the Governor of the State.
(b) to (d) Proposals for establishing Benches of High Courts have been received from
the State Governments of Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.
Proposal received from the State Government of Karnataka for establishing two Permanent Benches
of Karnataka High Court at Dharwad and Gulbarga has the consent both of the State Government and
Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. The proposal has been processed for seeking approval
of the President.
The Government of West Bengal had sent a proposal for establishment of a Circuit Bench
of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri. The Calcutta High Court has intimated that the
infrastructural facilities provided by the State Government are presently inadequate for
establishment of the Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri.
The Chief Minister of Kerala had sent a request in the year 2005 for setting up a bench of
Kerala High Court at Thiruvananthapuram. The Chief Justice of High Court of Kerala has not
approved the establishment of the High Court Bench at Thiruvananthapuram.
Proposal received from the State Government of Himachal Pradesh for establishment of a Bench
of Himachal Pradesh High Court at Dharamsala, has not been agreed to by the Chief Justice of
the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.
The State Government of Madhya Pradesh has not submitted any proposal for establishment of a
Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.