Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has called upon the Union Ministry of Law and Justice to provide full administrative and policy support for the approval of a circuit bench of the Karnataka High Court in Mangaluru, with a view to eventually establishing it as a permanent bench. In a letter addressed to Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the MP emphasized that the creation of this bench would fulfill the constitutional promise of affordable, localized, and timely justice. He noted that it would also significantly reduce the pendency burden on the principal bench in Bengaluru.
Positive Response from Chief Justice
The MP further highlighted that the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice Vibhu Bakhru, has responded positively to the representations made by the action committee advocating for the high court bench, as well as the Mangalore Bar Association. This development marks a crucial step forward in the long-standing demand for a dedicated bench in the coastal region.
Long-Standing Demand for Local Justice
For years, legal professionals and residents of the Dakshina Kannada region have been pushing for a high court bench in Mangaluru to ease access to justice. The current arrangement requires litigants to travel to Bengaluru, which is both time-consuming and expensive. The establishment of a circuit bench is seen as an interim measure that could later transition into a permanent bench, ensuring that the region's judicial needs are met efficiently.
MP Chowta's appeal underscores the importance of decentralizing judicial services to bring justice closer to the people, in line with constitutional ideals. The Union Ministry's support is now eagerly awaited to turn this vision into reality.
