Journalism of Courage
The state law and judiciary department has informed the Pune Bar Association (PBA) that it would need an approval from the chief justice of the Bombay High Court to set up a high court bench in the city. The PBA had sought to set up a high court HC bench in Pune. In a letter to the association,it also stated that the state government was ready to set up a bench in the city.
Former president of the PBA Milind Pawar,who received the letter from the law and judiciary department on Wednedsay,said the association had written to the government in this regard in Februray 2011. According to earlier high court rules,setting up of HC benches at a number of places in the state is not found to be beneficial and apt. Therefore,the PBAs demand had not ben forwarded to the Central government. However,if the Bombay HC chief justice gives a nod,the state government will go ahead with the plan, the letter,which is signed by senior official of the law and judiciary department Ajit Sasulkar,stated.
Former chairman of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (BCMG) D D Shinde said a resolution to set up a bench in Pune was passed in the Assembly in 1978. A committee chaired by Justice Madhav Pendse was set up to look into the matter. As per the report,the decision has been pending on a point of an argument about the distance between Pune and Mumbai, Shinde said. He said the issue was revisited in 1990 after protests. In October last year,the PBA had written to the chief justice of the Bombay HC and the state law minister,demanding a high court bench.
