BJP RAJYA Sabha member Maya Singh has moved a Bill in the Parliament seeking establishment of a permanent High Court bench at Bhopal.
The Bill envisages a permanent bench of High Court in Bhopal and appointment of such judges of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh being not less than five in number, as the Chief Justice of that High Court may, from time to time nominate, shall sit in Bhopal in order to exercise the jurisdiction and power for time being vested in that High Court in respect of cases arising in the district of Bhopal and adjoining areas of the other districts of MP.
Stating objects and reasons for moving the Bill, Maya said that despite carving of Chhattisgarh out of it, Madhya Pradesh was still one of the largest states of Indian Union.
Population of the State had also increased substantially, which also needed quick dispensation of justice. Generally, High Courts are located in the capitals of states but Bhopal is devoid of a HC bench. In fact, the principal bench of MP High Court should have been at Bhopal to honour its status as the capital, but the principal bench of M P High Court is at Jabalpur.
After Bhubaneswar and Thiruvanathapuram, Bhopal is the only capital city without a HC bench, which is a cause of consternation for the people of Bhopal.
As a result, there has been a long-standing demand for the establishment of a permanent HC bench at Bhopal. Successive governments of the State have also recommended establishment of such a bench.State Government officials have to shuttle between Bhopal and Jabalpur in respect of cases involving the State thereby incurring avoidable expenditure and burden on the exchequer.
{{/usCountry}}As a result, there has been a long-standing demand for the establishment of a permanent HC bench at Bhopal. Successive governments of the State have also recommended establishment of such a bench.State Government officials have to shuttle between Bhopal and Jabalpur in respect of cases involving the State thereby incurring avoidable expenditure and burden on the exchequer.
{{/usCountry}}The poor litigants of Bhopal and adjoining areas who wish to go to the High Court for justice cannot afford to fight their cases in Jabalpur.
It is, therefore, necessary that a permanent bench of the High Court of MP be established at Bhopal on priority basis, she added.