HC circuit bench in Mangaluru likely by August: Ivan D’Souza

Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza Saturday said the chief minister has written to the chief justice of the Karnataka high court urging the immediate establishment of a circuit bench in Mangaluru, and that they expect it to be set up by August this year.

He told reporters that the chief justice is expected to visit the city either by the end of this month or in the first week of June to inspect the infrastructure identified for the proposed bench. D’Souza said the chief minister had expressed support for the demand when he visited Mangaluru four months ago and had said a decision would be taken after discussions with the chief justice.

D’Souza said that during a meeting with the chief justice in Udupi, the latter acknowledged that it was a genuine demand and that the law should be decentralised so that justice could be delivered closer to the people. However, the chief justice had asked what the opinion of the govt was on the issue, he said.

He said that while the chief justice can expand the bench, they believe the govt and the chief justice should move together, and that they had requested the chief minister to write a letter. “Now we feel that 80% of the work is done after the chief minister’s letter,” Ivan said, expressing confidence that the high court circuit bench would be established soon.

The chief justice had raised concerns about infrastructure and basic facilities, which have now been clarified through the govt’s communication, D’Souza said. He added that a separate committee and a nodal officer have been sought to look into judges’ accommodation.

The circuit bench will benefit citizens of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi, D’Souza said, while noting that the decision on jurisdiction lies solely with the chief justice.

In his letter, chief minister Siddaramaiah said litigants and lawyers from coastal districts have to travel to Bengaluru, leading to financial strain, logistical difficulties and delays in accessing justice. A circuit bench in Mangaluru would decentralise judicial access and ensure timely and affordable justice, he said, adding that the govt is ready to facilitate the initiative immediately.

The letter stated that around 50,000 sq ft of space at the old deputy commissioner’s Office in Mangaluru has been identified for court operations, along with residential accommodation for judges and the required civic and administrative infrastructure.