(a) whether the Union Government has received proposals from various
State Governments and others for setting up of regional benches of the
Supreme Court and High Courts in their respective States/UTs;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the follow-up action taken thereon?
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Dr. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)
(a) to (c) No proposal has been received from any State Government for
establishment of regional Benches of the Supreme Court.
The Government of Karnataka has sent a proposal for making two Circuit
Benches of the Karnataka High Court at Dharwad and Gulbarga as Permanent Benches,
which is under consideration of the Government.
The Government of West Bengal had sent a proposal for establishment of a
Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri. The Chief Justice of the
Calcutta High Court had inspected the infrastructural facilities provided by the
State Government at Jalpaiguri for establishment of the temporary Circuit Bench
till the permanent building of the Circuit Bench is ready. However, in his
opinion, the infrastructural facilities provided for establishment of the
temporary Circuit Bench in the Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad Dak Bungalow are
neither satisfactory nor the premises suitable, even for temporary period. The
space and accommodation provided is also insufficient.
The Chief Minister of Kerala had sent a request in the year 2005 for
setting up a bench of Kerala High Court at Thiruvananthapuram. He was advised
to seek consent of the Chief Justice of the High Court as envisaged in Supreme
Court Judgment in case of Federation of Bar Association in Karnataka Vs. Union
of India [AIR 2000 SC 2544]. No reply has been received from the Government of
Kerala.