Date:12/06/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/12/stories/2004061202110300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore

HC Bench soon in Madurai

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, JUNE 11 . The Madras High Court Bench will be started very soon in Madurai, after the consent from the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, K. Venkatapathy, Union Minister of State for Law, said today.

The Union Minister told presspersons here that the proposal to attach 17 districts to the Bench would not overburden the five or six judges to be posted here. However, Mr. Venkatapathy noted, a question had arisen whether the districts of Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Ariyalur and Perambalur should be attached to the Bench or be left with the Madras High Court. The Bar Associations of these districts had expressed their willingness to continue with the High Court for proximity reasons.

Asked whether the private sector would be allowed to open more law colleges in Tamil Nadu, the Minister said the existing government colleges and the Central Law College (the State's only private college) would meet the demand. He humorously observed that the number of lawyers should not exceed the litigants.

Port revival

Mr. Venkatapathy said he would give priority to reviving the Cuddalore port, and had already sought details from Port Trust officials. Once revived the port would have the potential to create 10,000 jobs, besides improving the economic condition of Cuddalore district. He said he would take up the issue with the Minister for Shipping, T.R. Baalu, and hoped that with the State Government's cooperation, the project could be expedited.

Next, he would focus on improving the market situation for cashew farmers who were hit by the downward trend. The price per bag of cashew had fell from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 2,500.

The Minister said the 65-km road linking Kallakurichi to Tiruvannamalai was in a poor condition, and he would try to link it to the National Highway for a smooth drive to Vellore and Tirupati.