Mangaluru : Mangalore Bar Association president S P Changappa urged the government to establish the circuit bench of High Court in Mangaluru.

Addressing mediapersons on Thursday, he said that, as Mangaluru is expected to be a smart city in future, the judiciary system should also be smart. “The economically backward can have access to judiciary if a circuit bench is formed. At present, for higher appeals at the High Court, the people in Mangaluru are compelled to go to Bengaluru, which costs them dearer. Hence, the establishment of a circuit bench in Mangaluru in the need of the hour,” he said.

He added that, if the circuit bench is established in Mangaluru, the people of Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu will be benefited as they too need not travel all the way to Bengaluru for the hearing of their cases in the High Court.

The Bar Associations of Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts will be contacted and a movement will led by the united effort of all bar associations towards pressing the demand for a circuit bench, said Changappa.

He further said that the amendment to Karnataka Advocates’ Welfare Fund Notification 1983 will be an injustice to advocates.

“As per the amendment, an advocate with 15 years of professional experience should contribute Rs 1,000 and advocates with less than 15 years of experience should contribute Rs 500 towards Advocates Welfare Fund,” he explained.

Changappa said that the contribution is already made through the court stamp fee. Additional contribution should not be collected by the Advocates Welfare Fund. Also, the condition of completion of five years for availing medical reimbursement should be scrapped, he insisted.

An amount of Rs 10 lakh should be fixed as death compensation. Also, the age restriction should be scrapped. A proposal was submitted by the State Bar Council in this regard, but it is pending the last eight years.

He also demanded an increase in the stipend of new law practitioners from Rs 2,000 a month to Rs 3,000 and the stipend should be provided for 36 months instead of 24 months. The income limit of Rs 40,000 towards the eligibility of the stipend should be scrapped.

Responding to a query, he said that efforts were on towards the construction of Vakilara Bhavana near the court premises in Mangaluru.

Mangalore Bar Association vice president Yashodhar P Karkera, treasurer Yathisha and executive committee member Sundara Gowda were present among others.