Tharoor’s bill may come up for discussion in LS Friday

Thiruvananthapuram’s case for a High Court Bench should come up for discussion in the Lok Sabha on Friday, provided the ‘Coalgate-hit’ Parliament has a smooth day.

 Shashi Tharoor MP had submitted the issue for discussion in the form of a Private Member’s Bill. Tharoor said that the Bill has been  selected for discussion on Friday. 

 ‘’However, due to incessant disruptions in Parliament by the Opposition, there is a grave risk that the Lok Sabha may not meet (on Friday) and the Bill may not be discussed at all,’’ he said in a statement.

 Tharoor had introduced the Establishment of Permanent Benches of High Courts 2012 as a Private Member’s Bill on April 27 this year. In it, he had highlighted the need for ‘’establishing permanent benches of high courts at state capitals, where the principal seat of the High Court is at a place other than the state capital.’’ Currently, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa do not have HC Benches in their capitals.

 Tharoor has urged the Opposition not to disrupt the afternoon session on Friday when Private Members’ Bills are slated for discussion.

 Thiruvananthapuram has been clamouring for a High Court Bench for years without success. The Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association had even launched an agitation in this regard.

 A HC Bench in the capital is expected to help the Government avoid expenses involved in  terms of travelling cost and allowances to officials who have to travel all the way to Ernakulam to testify.

 The State Government, on various occasions, had taken up the issue with the Kerala High Court and the Centre. The Government had also selected the Old Collectorate building in the city to house the Bench.