Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Aug 22: The demand for a Karnataka High Court Circuit Bench in Coastal Karnataka, serving Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts, gained fresh momentum at a meeting held at Ravindra Mantapa, MGM College, Udupi, on August 22.

The meeting was jointly organised by ‘U-Act’ and the Coastal High Court Bench Agitation Committee. Representatives of various organisations, advocates and members of the public attended and expressed their support for the demand.

Former minister Jayaprakash Hegde said the coastal region urgently needs both a High Court bench and a medical college. He said establishing a High Court bench in the region would significantly reduce the financial burden on litigants.

“Advocates here may not charge more, but once a client has to travel to Bengaluru, the expenses increase considerably. If legal expenses are reduced, the burden on the common people will also come down. For a client to get speedy justice, the court must be located closer to the people,” he said.

Psychiatrist Dr PV Bhandary said legal proceedings and litigation can cause considerable psychological and financial stress. Establishing a High Court bench in the coastal region would help reduce the financial burden on people seeking justice and would be in the public interest, he said.

Shamala Bhandary, member of the Bar Council of Karnataka, said there would naturally be both support and opposition whenever such a demand is raised. However, she urged elected representatives, advocates and the public to join hands to take the movement forward.

“I will always stand with this agitation. Not only the public, but advocates from all bar associations must join the movement. Many people hesitate to approach the High Court because of the expenses involved,” she said.

Senior advocate Mattar Rathnakar Hegde said establishing a High Court bench in Coastal Karnataka was a demand shared by people across the region. Though technology has made it possible to conduct several court proceedings online, he said the need for a High Court bench remains due to the large number of cases from the coastal districts.

Prem Prasad Shetty, founder of ‘U-Act’ and convener of the Coastal High Court Bench Agitation Committee, said efforts would be made to take the demand to every section of society.

“The demand must reach more people. Over the next 15 days, meetings should be held in every taluk. Presidents and members of taluk bar associations must take the initiative and spread awareness through social media,” he said.

Representatives of various organisations participated in the meeting and shared their views in support of establishing the High Court bench in coastal Karnataka.

Srinath, Yaseen Shiroor, Byndoor Bar Association president Prashanth Poojary, Dr Sabitha Koraga, spokesperson Kokkarne Surendranath Shetty, Chandrashekar Shetty and others were present.