The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Circuit Benches: adequate facilities sought for Advocate-General’s office

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Friday, Jun 13, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Circuit Benches: adequate facilities sought for Advocate-General’s office

B.S. Ramesh

BANGALORE: Even as the Karnataka High Court has expressed its determination on starting the sittings of the Circuit Benches in Dharwad and Gulbarga from July 7, the State Government seems to have “forgotten” that it too has a duty to provide facilities and infrastructure to its employees, particularly the establishment of the Advocate-General’s office.

With both the Benches scheduled to operate simultaneously, the Advocate-General’s office is making all efforts to ensure that its establishment too is in place before the opening of the courts in Dharwad and Gulbarga. Unfortunately, the Advocate-General’s office finds itself in an unenviable position as there is no sufficient facility provided to it in either of the cities.

A team from the Advocate-General’s office inspected the Circuit Bench in Dharwad and found many inadequacies in the proposed premises slated to house its establishment. The team found that the building allotted to the Advocate-General establishment had to be furnished, and chairs and tables apart from almirahs and book racks had to be provided for government advocates. Besides, racks had to be installed for nearly 10,000 files of cases that would be transferred to the two Benches from Bangalore.

The logistics to support the Advocate-General establishment in both Gulbarga and Dharwad is yet to be finalised. Realising the short time that the office had to gear itself up, Advocate-General Uday Holla on Tuesday met Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph and urged him to provide adequate accommodation and other facilities at both the Benches.

The Chief Justice has referred the matter to a committee of judges, which is expected to give its decision shortly. Mr. Holla has also written to the State Government, requesting it to provide facilities to the Advocate-General’s office in both Gulbarga and Dharwad.

Apart from wrestling with the problem of providing infrastructure at the Benches, the office of the Advocate-General is also engaged in the task of deputing or transferring advocates from Bangalore to Gulbarga and Dharwad. With 11 judges slated to start work from July 7, the Advocate-General has to ensure that at least one advocate is posted to the two cities. Apart from them, staff would have to be deputed or transferred to look after the establishment. Thus, stenographers, office peons, clerks and other supporting staff would have to be posted by July 7.

Mr. Holla told The Hindu on Thursday that he had requested the Government to provide residential accommodation for the staff and advocates scheduled to be deputed or posted to the two cities. This would encourage advocates and officials to opt for a posting there. As of now, only a handful of government advocates and officials of the Advocate-General’s office have volunteered to work in Dharwad and Gulbarga.

Opposition

There is opposition from sections of the High Court staff against any move to post them or transfer them to Gulbarga and Dharwad. Women employees of the court say that they cannot go to either of the cities as they have to look after their families. Many of them, on condition of anonymity, said they joined the High Court as there were no transfers. “Had we known about the Benches, we would not have joined service here,” they said.

Employees of High Court held a meeting and opposed any move to forcibly transfer them from Bangalore.

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