Hyderabad, October 11: The demand for separate High Court benches in Seemandhra districts has gained momentum. Express speaks to Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh chairman A Narasimha Reddy for his take on the issue.
Is it feasible to have a separate High Court bench in Coastal Andhra or Rayalaseema?
We have been asking for a separate bench at a place other than the capital, be it Visakhapatnam or Guntur. It’s difficult for people from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram to come to Hyderabad to pursue their litigation. About three-and-a-half years ago, I made the proposal during the golden jubilee celebrations of the High Court. Many guests were surprised to learn that the AP HC doesn’t have a regional bench. Later, the then chief justice G S Singhvi, who convened the full court to decide the matter, told me that it couldn’t be done as judges by a majority of two opposed it. But now I am confident they will agree.
What’s the procedure for setting up a High Court bench?
The High Court has to pass a resolution by majority and send it to the government of AP and the Supreme Court. The state government refers the question to the Centre, which in consultation with the Supreme Court will set up a regional bench.
Do many other states have regional benches?
Maharashtra has Bombay High Court benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad and Panaji in Goa. Tamil Nadu has a Madras HC bench at Madurai whereas in Karnataka, Bangalore High Court benches are situated at Hubli-Dharwad and Gulbarga.
Does the demand have anything to do with the ongoing T-movement?
It’s true that setting up regional benches contributes to development of those regions. But it has nothing to do with the Telangana agitation.
–Agencies