CJI Doesn’t Favour Regional Braches of SC

Chief Justice of India (CJI) KG Balakrishnan has turned down Law Commission’s recommendation for establishing four regional branches of the Supreme Court, saying that he doesn’f favour the ‘disintegration’ of the apex court, reported PTI.

“I am not in favour of the disintegration of the Supreme Court. Personally I feel the Supreme Court cannot be in any other part of India. This is the highest court of the land. It is in the capital city of the land,” he was quoted as saying.

“It is a final court and we should maintain the integrity of the Supreme Court,” he added.

Last year, the Law Commission had recommended division of the apex court into a Constitution bench at Delhi and regional benches.

Noting that there is nothing wrong in restructuring the court, the CJI said that it cannot be disintegrated, though, said report.

Speaking at the R K Jain memorial foundation lecture in New Delhi, he said that the filing of cases in the apex court is increasing at a phenomenal rate. There are at present over 50,000 cases pending in the apex court, report said.

At present there are 26 judges in the Supreme Court against the sanctioned strength of 31.

The Law Ministry had sought opinion of Attorney General G E Vahanvati who also was not in favor of regional benches of the apex court.