BIG DAY: High Court Judge B. Prakasa Rao (extreme left) inaugurating the additional bench of the Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: There was a proposal to set up another Industrial Tribunal here and another Family Court would be set up, High Court Judge B. Prakash Rao said here on Saturday.

Mr. Justice Prakash Rao inaugurated an Additional Bench of the Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal near the Gurudwara junction in the city.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Justice Prakash Rao felt the need for setting up more number of courts and tribunals for speedy disposal of cases and to reduce pendency. "Judicial officers are in no way responsible for the huge pendency of cases. They are really working hard. But there are not adequate number of courts and tribunals and the Executive does not want to take up the responsibility," he said.

There was no need to resort to alternative dispute redressal system if there were adequate number of courts, Mr. Justice Prakash Rao observed.

Chairman of the Tribunal K. Sanjeeva Rao Naidu said there were 6,000 cases pending here and promised that efforts would be made to reduce the number by half in the ensuing six to nine months.

The Tribunal, which would start functioning immediately, consists of two Members and the Chairman. One Member was appointed and another would be appointed soon.

Principal District Judge R. Kantha Rao, an officer of the Commercial Taxes Department R. Appa Rao, and president of Vizag Bar Association, J. Pridhvi Raj spoke. Mr. Pridhvi Raj thanked the Judge for opening three courts in the agency area of the district.

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