BJP leaders led by Member of Parliament B.Y. Raghavendra expressed support Tuesday for a Karnataka High Court circuit bench in Shivamogga [1].
The move signals a political alignment with local legal professionals who argue that a regional bench is necessary to improve access to justice for residents. By backing the advocates, the party is positioning itself as a champion for administrative decentralization and judicial efficiency in the region.
The group visited the district court premises in Shivamogga on May 26 to publicly endorse the demand [1]. The advocates in the region have been calling for the establishment of the circuit bench to reduce the travel burden on litigants and lawyers who must otherwise travel to the main High Court seat.
B.Y. Raghavendra and other party officials met with the legal community to discuss the logistical benefits of a local bench. The initiative aims to streamline the judicial process for the district, ensuring that legal disputes are resolved closer to where they originate [1].
This support comes amid a broader effort by regional legal practitioners to highlight the challenges faced by those in the Malnad region. The advocates maintain that the current arrangement creates unnecessary delays, and financial burdens for those seeking relief from the High Court [1].
While the BJP leaders have voiced their support, the final decision to establish a circuit bench rests with the judicial administration and the state government. The party leaders said they would continue to push for the demand to ensure the legal needs of the Shivamogga population are met [1].
“BJP leaders expressed support Tuesday for a Karnataka High Court circuit bench in Shivamogga.”
The endorsement by a sitting Member of Parliament transforms a professional grievance by advocates into a political issue. If the demand is granted, it would decentralize judicial power in Karnataka, reducing the congestion at the primary High Court and potentially increasing the speed of case resolutions for the Shivamogga district.
