Centre writes to CJI on SC benches

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, JUNE 15. The Centre has reiterated its proposal to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for locating benches of the Supreme Court preferably in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata, notwithstanding the fact that the apex court had rejected the proposal in 1999.

According to Government sources, the Centre's action came after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs urged the Union Government to take immediate steps to set up SC benches outside Delhi. The Committee, headed by the senior Congress leader, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, in its recent report asked the Government to communicate to the SC that it was not convinced about the full court's opinion that having a bench in places other than Delhi would destabilise or affect its integrity.

The Committee, in its 56th and 61st reports, had recommended the setting up of SC benches in the southern, western and north- eastern parts of the country to provide justice to poor people for whom it was impossible to go to Delhi. The committee's views were communicated to the CJI.

In his reply in February 2000, the CJI informed the Government that the full court, at its meeting on December 15, 1999, had unanimously opposed the setting up of benches outside Delhi.

The Committee disagreed and again urged the Government to take up the matter.

In its 72nd report also, the Committee reiterated its recommendation. In its action taken report, the Government said the CJI had been requested to reconsider the matter in the light of the Committee's recommendation.

The Committee also wanted High Court (HC) benches in far-flung areas. It hoped that the Government would remove all hurdles, if necessary by amending the Constitution, in the way of setting up SC and HC benches.

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