Udupi: A meeting will be held in Udupi on August 22 to build a united movement demanding the establishment of a Karnataka High Court Circuit Bench in the coastal region, covering Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts.
The meeting has been organised by ‘U-Act’ and the Coastal High Court Bench Agitation Committee and will be held at 3 pm at Ravindra Mantapa, MGM College, Udupi. The organisers aim to bring together representatives of different sections of society and formulate a collective demand to be submitted to the state government.
Meeting to discuss long-standing demand
Addressing a press conference in Udupi, committee founder and advocate Prem Prasad Shetty said the August 22 meeting would focus on the long-standing demand for a High Court bench in the coastal region.
He said representatives from different organisations and sections of society would participate in the meeting and discuss the difficulties faced by litigants from the three coastal districts while approaching the High Court in Bengaluru.
The meeting is also expected to help formulate a coordinated campaign and strengthen the demand before the state government.
Travel to Bengaluru a major challenge
According to Prem Prasad Shetty, people from the coastal districts often have to travel around 900 to 1,000 km or more to Bengaluru when they need to pursue cases before the High Court.
Such travel can involve considerable expenditure on transportation, accommodation and other related expenses. The distance also creates practical difficulties for litigants who may have to make repeated trips depending on the nature and progress of their cases.
The difficulties become particularly pronounced during the monsoon, when heavy rainfall and challenging conditions along the ghat sections can affect travel between the coast and Bengaluru.
Women, senior citizens and members of the general public may face additional difficulties when required to make repeated long-distance journeys for legal proceedings.
Bench could improve access to justice
The organisers believe that establishing a High Court bench in the coastal region would make access to justice more convenient for people from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada.
Prem Prasad Shetty said a regional bench would allow litigants to pursue cases closer to their homes, potentially reducing both travel time and expenses.
He also highlighted several categories of issues that could benefit from easier access to legal remedies, including environmental matters, land disputes and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) cases.
Issues concerning senior citizens, women and the general public could also be addressed more conveniently if High Court proceedings were accessible within the coastal region, he said.
Wide participation expected
The organisers have invited representatives from a broad range of organisations to participate in the meeting.
These include bar associations, social organisations, business bodies, student organisations, labour unions, ex-servicemen’s associations, auto-rickshaw drivers and various employees’ unions.
The participation of organisations representing different sections of society is intended to give the demand a broader public character and create a common platform for discussing the proposed High Court bench.
The organisers have appealed to all interested groups and individuals who support the demand to attend the August 22 meeting and contribute to the discussion.
Coastal districts seek greater legal accessibility
The demand for a High Court bench is being presented not only as a question of convenience for litigants but also as an issue related to wider regional development.
The organisers contend that easier access to the High Court could help make the administrative system more responsive to issues emerging from the coastal districts.
They believe that local access to higher judicial remedies would also benefit matters involving the environment, land, coastal regulation and public interest.
The proposed meeting is therefore expected to discuss how a coordinated movement involving legal professionals, social organisations, businesses, workers, students and other sections can take the demand forward.
Call for united movement
Prem Prasad Shetty urged representatives of all sections of society and organisations concerned about the issue to participate in the meeting and extend their support to the long-pending demand.
The organisers hope that the August 22 gathering will provide a common platform for stakeholders from the three districts and help formulate a clear and united representation to the state government.
The press conference was attended by Paurnami Prem, Vijay D’Souza, Madhav Kamath, Saritha and Suresh Kamath.
With the proposed meeting bringing together representatives from multiple sectors, the organisers expect the August 22 discussion to be an important step towards building a wider campaign for a High Court Circuit Bench in coastal Karnataka.