BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) will be shifted from the BDA Shopping Complex in Indiranagar to the Multistoreyed Building for the convenience of litigants and advocates.

The Chief Minister was addressing advocates after reviewing construction work on the City Civil Court premises. The Government will first shift the KAT and later build a separate building for the tribunal, he said.

The Bangalore Advocates' Association has been urging the Government to shift the KAT to either the Multistoreyed Building or the Vikasa Soudha. The Government pays an annual rent of Rs. 60 lakhs for the KAT premises in Indiranagar.

On the demand for allotting house sites to advocates, he said the BDA is exploring ways to provide 30 x 40 and 20 x 30 sites at a low price for families that do not own sites. Sites of 40 x 60 and 50 x 80 will be distributed at the market price. There are about 14,000 registered advocates in Bangalore.

The Chief Minister said the Government has released Rs. 7.5 crores for completion of civil works at the City Civil Court under the third phase. The former Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna had evinced keen interest in taking up the work, he said. Some schemes will be announced in the State Budget for advocates hailing from poor families.

The Government will continue the scheme of paying a stipend of Rs. 500 a month to young advocates for a year after their enrolment, he said.

A sum of Rs. 50 lakhs has been set aside for a programme to be organised by the Karnataka High Court on the occasion of Suvarna Karnataka, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

Advocate-General R.N. Narasimhamurthy said though the Chief Minister does not hold a degree in law, he has deep concern for the problems of young advocates.

Advocates' Association President D.L. Jagadish spoke.

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