Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta has called for a united effort by public representatives, lawyers and citizens to press for the establishment of a Karnataka High Court bench in Mangaluru.
Speaking at a consultative meeting held in the city on Saturday, Chowta said the demand should be taken forward as a broader public campaign involving people across the coastal region. He said meetings would be organised at the taluk level to gather public opinion and build a detailed case before the committee examining the feasibility of establishing a High Court bench in Mangaluru.
Consultations planned across coastal Karnataka
The meeting brought together elected representatives, members of the legal fraternity, business organisations and representatives of various civic and social organisations.
Chowta said Mangaluru is a major city and that establishing a High Court bench would contribute to the development and importance of Dakshina Kannada. He called for citizens to associate themselves with the demand rather than leaving it as an issue confined to lawyers.
The consultations are expected to be extended to several taluks. Meetings will be held under the leadership of local MLAs in places including Belthangady, Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal and Moodbidri to collect views on the need for a bench in Mangaluru.
The objective is to document the difficulties faced by people who have to travel to Bengaluru for legal proceedings and present those concerns before the committee appointed by the Karnataka High Court.
High Court panel examining feasibility
The demand has gained importance following the constitution of a three-member committee by Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru on September 29.
The committee comprises Justices Anu Sivaraman, S.G. Pandit and Mohammed Nawaz. It has been tasked with examining the feasibility of establishing circuit or permanent High Court benches in several parts of Karnataka, including Mangaluru, Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu-Madikeri, Hassan, Davanagere and Uttara Kannada.
The panel has been directed to consult stakeholders before submitting its report to the High Court. Its visit to the regions concerned has not yet been finalised.
The committee’s assessment means that stakeholders seeking a bench in Mangaluru will need to present evidence and detailed arguments regarding the region’s requirements and the feasibility of such an arrangement.
Lawyers call for evidence-based case
Mangaluru Bar Association president Jagadish Shenava said a High Court bench would benefit the general public and welcomed the expansion of the demand from a lawyers’ initiative into a wider public campaign.
Senior advocate M.P. Noronha, however, stressed the need for stakeholders to understand the challenges involved in establishing another bench.
He pointed out that Karnataka already has High Court benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi, apart from the principal seat in Bengaluru. Therefore, stakeholders would need to demonstrate why another bench is necessary in Mangaluru and why the coastal city is suitable for one.
He also suggested documenting the difficulties faced by farmers, businessmen, industrialists and institutions that have to travel to Bengaluru for court proceedings. Details regarding available infrastructure and the strength and experience of the local legal fraternity would also form part of the case.
MLA seeks documentary evidence
Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath said the demand has received support and emphasised the need to submit documentary evidence to the government explaining why a High Court bench is required in Mangaluru.
The suggestion places emphasis on building the case through data and documented requirements rather than relying only on public meetings or representations.
Former Mangaluru Bar Association president H.V. Raghavendra also outlined the progress of the movement, while advocate M.P. Noronha suggested pursuing the demand in phases.
Former Rajya Sabha member B. Ibrahim, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, former minister B. Nagaraja Shetty and representatives of several organisations also participated in the consultation.
Campaign to gather views from wider region
Congress MLC and Karavali High Court Bench Horata Samiti president Ivan D’Souza said a coordinated campaign would be taken up across the region before the High Court committee visits the coastal districts.
According to the plans discussed at the meeting, consultations will be held in different centres to create awareness and gather public views. Meetings are also planned in Udupi and other districts covered by the committee’s assessment.
A meeting involving MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other stakeholders under the leadership of district minister U.T. Khader has been scheduled for October 12. Similar consultations are expected in Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru.
The wider consultations are intended to ensure that the committee receives representations from people who may be affected by the location and accessibility of High Court services.
Demand linked to access to justice
One of the central arguments in favour of a High Court bench in Mangaluru is the distance that residents of coastal and neighbouring districts may have to travel to Bengaluru for legal proceedings.
Stakeholders have said that farmers, business owners, industrial establishments and institutions can face logistical and financial difficulties when cases require repeated appearances before the High Court.
A local bench, supporters argue, could make access to judicial proceedings more convenient for litigants and lawyers from the region. However, the final decision will depend on the feasibility assessment and the High Court’s consideration of the committee’s report.
The committee’s mandate covers multiple regions, meaning Mangaluru’s stakeholders will have to present a detailed case alongside other locations seeking similar judicial infrastructure.
Public campaign enters a new phase
The latest meeting marks a move towards broadening the demand beyond the legal community.
Earlier efforts were largely associated with lawyers and the Mangaluru Bar Association. The current campaign seeks participation from elected representatives, business groups, professional bodies, civil society organisations and citizens.
The proposed taluk-level consultations are expected to provide a platform for gathering specific examples of difficulties faced by litigants and documenting the region’s legal and infrastructure requirements.
The information collected through these meetings could form part of the representations submitted to the High Court committee.
Committee report will be significant
The three-member committee’s report is expected to play an important role in determining whether the proposed locations meet the requirements for a circuit or permanent High Court bench.
The committee has been asked to consult the legal fraternity and other stakeholders before making its assessment.
For Mangaluru, the coming weeks are therefore likely to focus on gathering evidence, conducting consultations and presenting a structured case for the proposed bench.
The demand remains under consideration, and no decision to establish a High Court bench in Mangaluru has been announced.
Conclusion
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta has called for a united public effort to support the demand for a Karnataka High Court bench in the city. Consultations are planned across taluks to gather public views and document the region’s requirements.
The demand comes after the Karnataka High Court constituted a three-member committee to examine the feasibility of circuit or permanent benches in Mangaluru and several other regions. The committee’s assessment and subsequent report will be important in determining the next steps.