Mitali Palnitkar
Published on: March 21, 2022 at 18:35 IST
The Senior Advocate P Wilson requested the Court to continue the Court Hearings in Virtual mode until Regional Benches of the Supreme Court are established.
The Bench comprised Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant.
Senior Advocate Wilson stated before the Bench that, “I request Your Lordships to continue this Virtual Hearing till Regional Benches. I can see the diversity.”
He supported the idea of Setting up of Regional Benches of the Supreme Court several times. In 2019, he said that the move would improve the Judge-to-Population ratio in the Country.
He said that the Judge-to-Population ratio is Miniscule in the Country. There are only 34 Judges for a huge Population of 133.92 Crores.
In the letters addressed to Wilson and Vaiko (Leader of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), the then Union Law Minister RP Prasad said that Regional Benches of the Supreme Court could not be set up due to Constitutional obstacles. Also, the Issue was Pending before the Supreme Court in the National Court of Appeal Case.
Union Law Minister RS Prasad added that the idea was Opposed by Attorney Generals of India. The idea of constituting a separate Bench outside Delhi was not in favour of the Supreme Court.
Senior Advocate Wilson had written a letter to Union Law Minister RS Prasad in December 2020 requesting the Government to introduce a Bill so that Article 130 of the Indian Constitution could be Amended so as to provide for Permanent Regional Benches of the Supreme Court at New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.
The Amendment was proposed by Senior Advocate Wilson in July 2021 through a Private Member Bill dubbed as the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The Bill highlighted the issued faced by Litigants outside Delhi in accessing the Supreme Court.
Senior Advocate Wilson also wrote a letter Addressing the current Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju requesting for Government’s support in setting up Regional Benches of the Supreme Court.
Also Read: Madras HC urges Centre to set up Regional Benches of Supreme Court