Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Overrule objection, government urged

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pressure groups lobbying for the development of the city have come out against Chief Justice H.L. Dattu’s report to the government turning down the demand for a High Court Bench here.

The Federation of Residents’ Associations, Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT) has expressed disappointment over the decision. Highlighting the strong stand adopted by the Tamil Nadu government in setting up a High Court Bench at Madurai, T.K. Bhaskara Panikker, FRAT president, and Paraniyam Devakumar, general secretary, called on the State government to pursue the same direction.

“In Tamil Nadu, the government overruled the High Court’s objection and got the Bench at Madurai sanctioned by the Centre. The Kerala government should do likewise,” they said.

“Thiruvananthapuram is the only capital city without a High Court or a Bench. This results in a heavy wastage of funds that would otherwise have been utilised for development activities. The government should exhibit the will to go ahead with the proposal for a High Court Bench with filing powers,” FRAT said.

The Trivandrum Residents’ Apex Council (TRAC) has also expressed dismay at the report of the Chief Justice. Amaravila Ramakrishnan Nair, TRAC president, said, “The government only needs to consult the High Court on the issue; it does not require the Court’s concurrence. It is now up to the State government to take the initiative and press the Centre to sanction the Bench.”

TRAC has announced that it will launch a hunger strike to highlight the long-standing demand for a Bench in the city.

Law Minister M. Vijayakumar who is in Delhi was not available for comment. His office confirmed that the government had received a letter from the Chief Justice turning down the demand for a High Court Bench on the grounds that it was not feasible.

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