Khader asks DK administration to prepare presentation on infrastructure for High Court bench in Mangaluru

With the three-member committee of High Court Judges set to visit Mangaluru shortly to study the feasibility of setting up the bench of the High Court in Mangaluru and other places, Dakshina Kannada in-charge Minister U.T. Khader on Sunday, directed Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan to be prepared to make a presentation before the committee on the infrastructure needs that the government will meet for establishing the bench in Mangaluru.

Speaking at a meeting convened by the Minister to consult stakeholders on the need for a bench in Mangaluru, Mr. Khader asked Mr. Darshan to prepare a checklist of infrastructure requirements and form a committee to work out ways to meet them.

Mr. Khader said after the Dasara festival he will hold meetings with advocates from Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Madikeri, Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts to build consensus in favour of setting up the High Court bench in Mangaluru. “I have high hopes of positive response from Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Madikeri, and Uttara Kannada districts. Have to convince Shivamogga people a lot. We should present a united picture before the committee,” he said and added that ultimately it will be the High Court Judges committee that will decide where the High Court bench should be set up.

Former Rajya Sabha MP B. Ibrahim said Karnataka Chief Justice Vibhu Bhakru had made it clear to a delegation of Mangaluru advocates, who met him recently, that it was necessary to get consensus of at least four districts for inclusion of those districts in the proposed bench in Mangaluru. “There is lot of responsibility on Mr. Khader to get this consensus,” he said.

MLC Ivan D’Souza said the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written a letter to Karnataka Chief Justice favouring High Court bench in Mangaluru. The present Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is in favour of the bench in Mangaluru, he said.

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath and Bantwal MLA U. Rajesh Naik said they favoured setting up of the bench in Mangaluru, which will bring courts close to litigants of the region.

Former Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo, Mangalore University Vice Chancellor P.L. Dharma and former President of Dakshina Kannada District Kannada Sahitya Parishat Pradeep Kumar Kalkura also spoke.