MDMK, DMK Leaders Demand Regional Bench Of Supreme Court To Be Set Up In Chennai; Raises Issue In Rajya Sabha

MDMK chief Vaiko and DMK leader P Wilson have raised a demand to set up a regional bench of the Supreme Court in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Vaiko said that people from the southern parts of the country face many problems such as language barrier, exorbitant fees and long travel time in approaching the Supreme Court, due to which a regional bench should be established in Chennai.

“The aforesaid issues have discouraged the weaker sections of society from seeking legal assistance from the Supreme Court,” he said while raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha.

Noting that as many as 54,013 cases were pending in the Supreme Court as on May 4, 2018, the MDMK leader said that setting up another bench would reduce backlog of cases and also ensure speedy justice.

DMK leader P Wilson also made a strong case for setting up regional bench, pointing out that a Parliamentary Standing Committee and Law Commission had recommended such step. Many members supported the issue raised by the two leaders.

It may be recalled that in September this year, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu too had called for setting up of four regional benches of the Supreme Court in the country.

Expressing serious concern over inordinate delay in justice delivery in the country, Naidu had suggested several reforms including bifurcation of the Supreme Court and setting up of four regional benches of the Supreme Court.

Naidu had also endorsing a recommendation of the Law Commission to split the top court into Constitutional Division and Courts of Appeal for steady disposal of cases.

He had underlined the need to set up four regional benches of the Supreme Court and stated that this arrangement would not require any amendment to the Constitution.