Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Stir for Bench gathers pace

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The members of the Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association (TBA), on an indefinite satyagraha in front of the Vanchiyoor court, have apparently seized an opportunity to highlight their demand for a High Court Bench in the capital.

The State legislature is celebrating its golden jubilee and the TBA members were quick to point out that their demand for a Bench with filing powers was as old as the State legislature.

In a release issued by the TBA on Monday, the members recalled the unanimous resolution passed by the E.M.S. ministry in 1957 for the setting up of a Bench here. The resolution was later endorsed by the A.K. Antony government. According to the lawyers, if the State government plays its part the golden jubilee celebrations will be more meaningful.

An all-party delegation led by the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and comprising all Members of the Legislative Assembly should meet the President and apprise her about the situation, they said.

The protest, launched by the TBA completed 67 days on Monday.

Advocate Ajith K. Nair, advocate clerk Binu V.T. and Abdul Aziz, member of the Federation of Residents’ Associations Trivandrum (FRAT), took part in the satyagraha on Monday.

V. Surendran Pillai, MLA, addressed the protesters. Meanwhile, FRAT members urged the Centre to exert pressure on the President for the purpose.

As the State government had set apart Rs.50 lakh as budgetary allocation for the proposed Bench, a decision should be taken at the earliest, FRAT president Pattom Sasidharan Nair and general secretary Parinayam Devakumar said in a press release issued recently.

The members also urged Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Vayalar Ravi to expedite the introduction of a Private Bill in Parliament on the issue by C.K. Chandrappan, MP.

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