The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : SC benches: Parliamentary panel moots constitutional amendment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

SC benches: Parliamentary panel moots constitutional amendment

Proposal made in a report submitted to the Centre in May last

Committee recommended having a Supreme Court bench in the country’s four regions
When it was rejected, it had suggested at least a temporary/camp court be set up in the South

HYDERABAD: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has suggested a Constitutional amendment to pave the way for setting up of the Supreme Court’s benches ‘wherever necessary for public convenience’.

E. M. Sudarsana Nachiappan, chairman of the committee, which is on a two-day visit to the city, told a press conference here on Monday that the suggestion was made in a report submitted to the Centre in May last. The committee had recommended three times to consider having a bench of the Supreme Court in the country’s four regions.

When it was rejected, it had suggested at least a temporary/camp court be set up in the South, with a provision to make it permanent. This was also turned down. In view of the persistent demands for SC benches, the committee was also looking at the issue as part of judicial reforms.

The committee, which also looks in to the implementation of RTI and reservations in appointments/promotions, had suggested to officials of several public undertakings, who met its members on Monday to fill vacant posts under ST and physically disabled quotas, particularly of the visually impaired, within three months. If this was not done, the committee would summon them. He said the time-frame was suggested because 90 per cent of the ST/disabled posts, particularly for the blind, remained vacant. The reason given by officials was that they were searching for suitable posts for the latter category. The committee suggested to officials to adopt direct approach, rather than allowing filing of court cases pertaining to public grievances with a view to solving the problem of huge pendency in courts. Officials could adopt conciliation/arbitration alternatives as over 30 lakh cases were pending.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh