Mangaluru: The long-pending demand for establishing a High Court circuit bench and a permanent bench in the city has gained fresh momentum, with the Chief Justice agreeing to conduct a site inspection in the near future.
The proposed bench is expected to cater to litigants from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu districts, significantly reducing the need for travel to Bengaluru for legal proceedings.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Mangaluru City Corporation office, MLC Ivan D'Souza said the Chief Justice will inspect the old Deputy Commissioner's office building located in the State Bank area. The visit aims to assess whether the premises meet the infrastructure requirements needed to establish a circuit bench.
He explained that the proposed High Court bench would require adequate court halls, office space, and facilities for storing legal records. In this context, the district in-charge minister has already written to the State government requesting allocation of the four-storey building, which is spread across 5.5 acres.
Ivan D'Souza noted that additional land may become available in the future once the undertrial prisoners' jail currently functioning in the city is relocated to Mudipu. However, since the relocation process is expected to take another two to three years, the old DC office building is being considered as an immediate and practical solution.
He added that the final decision regarding the establishment of the circuit bench will be taken after the Chief Justice's inspection and evaluation of the site.
Highlighting the developments, he credited the progress to sustained efforts by various stakeholders, including advocates' associations, law students, public representatives, and citizens. Several awareness initiatives such as postcard campaigns and email drives were undertaken to draw the attention of the High Court to the region's demand.
Legal experts have long argued that a circuit bench in the coastal region would improve access to justice and reduce the burden on litigants, many of whom currently travel long distances for hearings.
Expressing optimism, Ivan D'Souza said that the region is hopeful of receiving a High Court circuit bench soon, similar to those already functioning in Hubballi-Dharwad and Kalaburagi. The move is expected to strengthen judicial infrastructure and benefit thousands of litigants across multiple districts.
Members of the Dakshina Kannada District Bar Association, including president Raghavendra Rao and secretary Sridhar, along with government pleader M.P. Noronha and other legal professionals, were present during the press conference.
The Chief Justice's proposed visit marks a crucial step forward in the long-standing demand for a High Court bench in the region. If approved, the initiative could significantly enhance access to justice and ease the legal process for residents across coastal and Malnad districts.