The Advocates Association of Bengaluru Requests Setting up a Bench of the Supreme Court in South India

Mr. A.P. Ranganatha, President , The Advocates Association of Bengaluru on July 26, met Mr. N.V. Ramana, Chief Justice of India (CJI) in New Delhi and conveyed  his message of  the CJI’s excellent leadership in the aftermath of the Second wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The reputation of the Hon’ble Supreme as the guardian of Justice has been reinforced by the Judges, led by the Chief Justice of India. In spite of judges themselves being infected, the Supreme Court ensured that justice did not become a casualty of the pandemic. The Advocate fraternity and each and every member of the general public express their gratitude for the same.

The Advocates Association of Bengalurų, which is the largest Bar Association in Asia has been working uncompromisingly for the welfare of the Advocates, Court Staff and Litigants. In this backdrop, we consider it our bounden responsibility to agitate before the Hon’ble Chief Justice the longstanding request of the litigant public and advocates, for setting up a bench of the Supreme Court in southern India.

Even though the pandemic has brought the Courts onto online platforms, access to the Supreme Court for people residing in South India is still a distant dream owing to prohibitory costs of litigation before the Apex Court. Therefore, there exists a plausible claim in order to substantially improve the access to justice in India. We also believe that the city of Bengaluru with its world-class infrastructure, unmatched connectivity and geographic location is apposite for setting up a Bench of the Supreme Court in south India and request you to favourably consider recommending to the Union of India to set up a bench in the city of Bengaluru.

Mr. A.P. Ranganatha, President , The Advocates Association of Bengaluru  made a fervent appeal and requested the CJI to take up the issue of ensuring a representative bench.  A judiciary that reflects the real India with its unity in diversity. “I pray that Your Lordship will look at it with the seriousness it requires and take necessary measures to set right the existing disparity. The Bar will continue to strive towards strengthening the hands of the judiciary. We are also hopeful that necessary reforms will be made in the direction of increasing the qualitative efficiency of the High Courts across the country”.