Sunday, April 24, 2016

Haryana CM urges Centre for a separate High Court

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 24
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today urged the Central Government to consider certain specific issues concerning Haryana which included long standing demand of a separate High Court, equal representation in High Court, creation of a separate Division Bench and creation of All India Judicial Services.
          The Chief Minister, who was addressing a conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts in New Delhi, urged the Central Government to bring the necessary legislation to fulfill the long standing demand of the State for the creation of a separate High Court. He said as per Article 214 of our Constitution, there shall be a High Court for each state. Haryana Vidhan Sabha has already passed a resolution for creation of a separate High Court for Haryana, he added.
          While reminding of the bifurcation of Civil Secretariat and Legislative Assembly between Punjab and Haryana, he said that a separate High Court can easily be created by bifurcating the existing building, staff and infrastructure as was done in the case of Civil Secretariat and Legislative Assembly.This is all the more important since the number of cases from Haryana far exceed than Punjab, he added.
          He also drew the attention of the Central Government for having equal representation in the High Court.He pointed out that Haryana has less than equal representation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court saying that there is an unwritten norm of having 60 per cent judges from Punjab and 40 per cent judges from Haryana, that is being followed. This practice is not only discriminatory in nature, but also has no sanction of law. “I earnestly request the Chief Justice of India and the Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to end this discriminatory tradition and practice”, added Mr Manohar Lal.
          The Chief Minister also raised the issue of creation of a Division Bench. He said that Haryana has two unique features, viz, bordering the national capital from three sides and having 13 districts out of its total 21 districts falling in the National Capital Region. Haryana’s centre of economic activity and resultantly legal activity is, therefore, tilted towards the National Capital Region. However, the present seat of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is on the opposite end of the State. This leads to loss of valuable time and resources of both the people and the government. “I, therefore, request the Prime Minister of India to consider setting up of a separate Bench of the High Court near the National Capital Territory. I also request Chief Justice of India and Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to support this demand”, said Mr Manohar Lal. Its acceptance would provide big success to poor ligitigants from far off region of southern and western Haryana, he added.
          The Chief Minister also reiterated State Government’s stand to support the creation of All India Judicial Services on the pattern of All India Services as provided under Article 312(1) of the Constitution of India. He said that this would help in attracting the best talent in the country towards this service resulting in enhancement of competence and quality of judges. India, perhaps is the only country in the world where judges appoint themselves and governments have no role as far as Judicial Establishment is considered. Recruitments in the All India Judicial Services may be made through the Union Public Service Commission, he added.

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