The Hindu : High Court Bench in Madurai from April 13

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

High Court Bench in Madurai from April 13

By A. Subramani

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court will be inaugurated on April 13, more than 12 years after the idea was floated, the Chief Justice, B. Subhashan Reddy, said today.

Talking to presspersons here, he said the permanent bench, having jurisdiction over 14 districts extending up to Nagapattinam from Kanyakumari, would be formally opened by the Chief Justice of India. The Chief Minister was scheduled to participate. All pending criminal and civil cases would be transferred to the new Bench, which would have a separate registry to file cases and to issue copies of orders.

Mr. Justice Reddy said the Centre sanctioned "five-seven more judges".

He had written to the State Government highlighting the need to have at least 14 more judges.

The Bench was supposed to have one-third of the total strength of the High Court and the State would meet most of the financial implications of the new appointments.

Keeping in mind the eight existing vacancies in the High Court and the one scheduled to arise in March, nine names were forwarded to the Centre.

On the composition of the list forwarded for appointment, he said due consideration was given to candidates from weaker sections.

"It is a well balanced list, having names of two senior-most judges from the subordinate judiciary, a nominee from Scheduled Caste, women and a tax law expert, among others."

The Bench, situated on a 75-acre campus at Ulaganeri, would be functional as soon as the Centre gave its nod. Even if Parliament was dissolved by the time the report reached Delhi, the President could promulgate an ordinance, Mr. Justice Reddy said. Judges would be posted on a rotational basis, while the appointment/transfer of other staff members would be almost permanent, except in special cases and circumstances.

The Madurai Bench Constitution Committee, comprising Justice E. Padmanabhan (since retired), Justice K. Govindarajan and Justice D. Murugesan, after making several spot inspections, suggested installation of statues of the Goddess of Justice, Mahatma Gandhi and Tiruvalluvar on the court premises. Justice K. Gnanaprakasam replaced Mr. Justice Padmanabhan in the Committee.

Disposal record

Mr. Justice Reddy said that by breaching the 3-lakh mark in disposal of pending cases, the Madras High Court retained its top position in the disposals ratio. The per-judge disposal ratio for 2003 was more than 3,400.

The new headquarters of the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA) was ready for inauguration and the High Court took possession of the building on January 20.

It might be inaugurated in February, subject to the convenience of the Chief Justice of India. Construction of the new building for the Judicial Academy was all set to be completed by March-end.

Acceding to a request by the High Court administration, the State Government agreed to transfer land where the Esplanade bus terminus was located.

"The land, originally belonged to us, was given to the Government in the 1970s for establishing a park," Mr. Justice Reddy said.

Now the land would be returned to the High Court along with about 27,000 sqft of built-up area.

Disclosing that the process of allotment of new additional chambers for practising advocates was under way, he said there were plans to start the construction of the IV phase.

It would come up adjacent to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu office and would be a sea-facing structure.

The top three High Court judges are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to take a decision on letting the functioning of the special court, which heard cases against the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and her former Cabinet colleagues.

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