Media Release

Brahmavar, Oct 15: A massive public meeting will be held in Brahmavar on October 17 to demand the establishment of a High Court bench in Udupi district, with the Brahmavar Taluk Struggle Committee extending its full support to the cause.

The meeting has been organised following a call by the Coastal High Court Bench Struggle Committee, Udupi district, to mobilise public support for the long-pending demand. The movement is non-political and aims to bring various organisations, associations and members of the public onto a common platform in the larger public interest.

Addressing a press conference, Prem Prasad Shetty, advocate and convenor of the Coastal High Court Bench Struggle Committee, Udupi district, said that establishing a High Court bench in Udupi would be a significant step towards the development of the region and improving access to justice.

He pointed out that thousands of litigants currently have to travel to Bengaluru to pursue their cases, resulting in considerable expenditure of time, money and effort. A High Court bench in the coastal region would provide substantial relief, particularly to ordinary citizens and families with limited financial resources.

Shetty also said that the regional presence of a High Court bench could encourage greater accountability and efficiency in district and local administration.

He appealed to people from all political parties, communities, professions and sections of society to set aside their differences and extend wholehearted support to the movement in the long-term interest of the region and the district.

The committee welcomed the formation of a three-member judicial committee by the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court on September 29, to examine the long-standing demand of the coastal region. The committee comprises Justice Anu Sivaraman, Justice S G Pandit and Justice Mohammed Nawaz.

Emphasising Udupi's geographical advantage, Shetty said the district is centrally located among the three coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. It is also conveniently accessible to parts of the neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts.

The committee has strongly urged that the proposed circuit or permanent High Court bench be established in Udupi district. The public meeting in Brahmavar is intended to formulate the next phase of the movement and consolidate public support for the demand.

The Brahmavar Taluk public demand meeting for the establishment of a High Court Bench will be held on Saturday, October 17, at 10.30 am at the Buntara Bhavana Hall in Brahmavar.

The organisers have appealed to advocates, office-bearers of various organisations, community leaders and members of the public to participate in large numbers and help strengthen the movement. They have also urged print and electronic media representatives to provide extensive coverage to the issue, citing its importance to regional development and access to justice.

Those present at the press conference included B Bhujanga Shetty, former Zilla Panchayat president; Kadoor Praveen Shetty, president of the Brahmavar Advocates' Association; Shekhar Havanje, social activist; Alwyn Andrade, Rotarian and social activist; and Mahesh Tadekallu, social activist.