2 K'taka HC circuit benches upgraded

Days after Congress came to power in the state, Centre today approved upgrading two Karnataka High Court Circuit Benches to Permanent Benches.
The decision to turn the Dharwad and Gulbarga Circuit Benches to Permanent Benches was taken at the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.
The establishment of Permanent Benches would facilitate better access for justice to litigants of the districts, covered under the jurisdiction of the Dharwad and Gulbarga Benches. The Principal Bench is at Bengaluru.
"It will satisfy the long-felt demand of the people," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters at the briefing of the Union Cabinet.

It will also help in speedy disposal of cases with consequent reduction in pendency in the High Court.
The decision came after requisite infrastructure facilities were created by the state government.

At present, judges are sitting at Circuit Benches on a rotational basis for one month. The creation of Permanent Benches would mean that judges will sit there on a permanent basis and it will end inconvenience to them, advocates and litigants.
Circuit Benches at Dharwad and Gulbarga were set up in July, 2008.
The state had a sanctioned strength of 41 Judges in 2008, which has been increased to 50 Judges since November, 2009.

Out of these, 6 or 7 judges sit at the Circuit Bench at Dharwad and 4-3 Judges at the Circuit Bench at Gulbarga on rotation basis.
The State has sanctioned 190 positions of officials to work for the Dharwad Circuit Bench and 157 officials to work for the Gulbarga Circuit Bench.
The proposal to make the Circuit Benches Permanent came to the Centre after being approved by the state government and Chief Justice of the High Court.