The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Lawyers seek writ powers for Madurai Bench

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Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Lawyers seek writ powers for Madurai Bench

By Our Staff Reporter

The illuminated High Court Bench complex in Madurai on the eve of inauguration. — Photo: K. Ganesan

MADURAI, JULY 23. Advocates in the southern districts have welcomed the setting up of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, scheduled for inauguration tomorrow.

After thirty years of effort by advocates and political parties, the Bench has taken shape and will be commissioned by the Chief Justice of India, R.C. Lahoti, at a function organised by the High Court at Ulaganeri here.

The Madurai Bar Association and its counterparts in the southern districts organised a series of agitations, including a `bandh' on April 4, 1995, demanding the setting up of the Bench, a recommendation of the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission.

"The Bench will be a permanent one with powers on a par with the principal seat (the Madras High Court). The appeal provisions for judgments pronounced by the division bench here will be available only in the apex court. It is the duty of the Government to provide adequate manpower and funds for the smooth functioning of the Bench," said the Madurai Bar Association president, K. Vellaichamy.

Legal luminaries are of the view that the purpose of establishing the Bench will be complete only when the writ jurisdiction is extended.

"It is the obligation of the Madras High Court to provide writ powers to the Bench to enable the public avail themselves of all privileges available in a High Court."

After the foundation stone was laid on April 13, 2000 by the then Chief Justice of India, Justice A.S. Anand, the majestic buildings housing the Bench came up briskly though there were funds constraints.

The former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, and the present Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, contributed for bringing the Bench into being.

`Boost to trade'

S. Rethinavelu, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, said the Bench would increase the floating population of the temple city, boosting its economy.

The Madurai High Court Advocates' Association urged the Madras High Court to extend writ jurisdiction to the Madurai Bench as it was an effective tool to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people.

In a statement, its secretary, K.P. Thiyagarajan, said Benches of the Central and State administrative tribunals, should also be established in Madurai.

The Indian Association of Lawyers (Tamil Nadu Chapter) secretary, K. Samidurai, said the Madurai Bench would facilitate speedy justice to the litigant public.

In a statement, the Lawyers for Human Rights secretary, T. Lajpathi Roy, and the joint secretary, R. Gandhi, said litigants in this part of the State were legally empowered by the constitution of the Bench.

Security stepped up

Security has been tightened for the inauguration. Hundreds of police personnel have been deployed at Ulaganeri and in the VIP route on the Madurai-Tiruchi national highway.

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