THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre will consider the state’s demand for a High Court Bench in Thiruvananthapuram once the state government submits a concrete proposal in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said here on Sunday.
Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, he said that the state government has not yet submitted such a proposal.
‘’There are certain procedures to be followed for establishing a High Court Bench,’’ he said.
‘’The Chief Minister has to consult with the HC Chief Justice on it. If they concur, they should submit a consolidated proposal. Then only the Ministry can consider it,’’ Gowda said.
If such a proposal is submitted, the Centre will definitely consult with the Kerala High Court and take a decision, he added. ‘’So far, no proposal has been submitted,’’ he said. The Minister also pointed out that it is the state government that has to provide the infrastructure for the Bench, including the building and furniture.
The demand for a High Court Bench in Thiruvananthapuram is several decades old, and the state government had even identified a building to house it.
Although the government had held consultations with the High Court on the issue, nothing has come of it so far.
In 2013, the Kerala High Court had set up a five-member committee headed by Justice K M Joseph for studying the government’s request.
The other members of the committee were Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan, Justice K T Sankaran, Justice S Siri Jagan and Justice T R Ramchandran Nair.
