The Union government has told the Lok Sabha that a proposal to establish regional benches of the Supreme Court was considered and turned down by the Court’s full court in 2010. Responding to a question in Parliament, the Centre clarified that the idea did not receive the approval of the apex court, and therefore no steps were taken to implement it.
The government explained that the authority to decide on the creation of Supreme Court benches rests solely with the judiciary. Since the full court—comprising all judges of the Supreme Court—had rejected the proposal, the executive could not proceed further on the matter. The Centre added that it has no independent power to set up additional benches without the Court’s consent.
The issue of regional benches has periodically resurfaced, with proponents arguing that decentralisation would make the justice delivery system more accessible and reduce the financial and logistical challenges faced by litigants from distant states. Despite these arguments, the government maintained that the Supreme Court continues to function from New Delhi as envisaged under the Constitution.
According to the Centre’s statement, there is currently no active proposal to revisit the idea of regional benches, as the matter was examined and settled following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2010.
The post Supreme Court declined idea of Regional benches over a decade ago:Centre appeared first on India Legal.