Plea in Supreme Court for setting up SC bench in Chennai

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday a petition seeking setting up of a separate bench at Chennai for easy accessibility of justice for citizens of southern states.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice HL Dattu and justices Arun Kumar Mishra and Amitava Roy would consider the PIL for the circuit bench of the apex court on the ground that reports of the Law Commission and Parliamentary standing committees have favoured it. The petition, filed by advocate <g data-gr-id="15">A M</g> Krishna, has sought the court's direction to the Centre "to initiate immediate steps in setting up a Supreme Court bench at Chennai". It also said that approaching SC is very expensive for litigants coming from distant places like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Assam and other far-flung states. "In view of the alarming escalation of transport fare, lodging expenses and in view of the geographical location of the seat of the apex court, it is hoped that the Supreme Court will suggest ways and means for maintaining structural and financial integrity of the of the SC even while setting up the southern, western and north-eastern benches," it said.