(a) whether various State Governments have submitted proposals for establishment of High
Court benches in their respective States particularly in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the time by which the said benches are likely to be established; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government thereon?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) to (d) Four proposals for establishing Benches of High Courts have been received
from the State Governments. The status of these proposals is as under:
(i) 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. This has been processed for seeking
approval of the President on the advice of the Union Cabinet.
(ii) Proposal received from the State Government of West Bengal for establishment of Circuit
Bench of the Calcutta High Court at Jalpaiguri has the consent both of the State Government
and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. This has been processed pending the communication
from Calcutta High Court which has been requested to indicate the date of operationalization of
the Circuit Bench.
(iii) Proposal received from the State Government of Kerala for setting up a Bench of Kerala
High Court at Thiruvananthapuram, has not been agreed to by the Chief Justice of the High
Court of Kerala.
(iv) 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.
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. No proposal has been received
from the Government of Uttar Pradesh to establish a Bench of Allahabad High Court at Bahraich.