Justice Vibhu Bakhru Pledges Focus on Public Concerns and Advocacy Issues

Quick Summary

• Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Vibhu Bakhru visited the Dharwad Bench for the first time, receiving a warm welcome from senior advocates and jurists.
• He reiterated his pledge to address concerns raised by litigants and advocates.
• A memorandum was submitted by Bar Association representatives, requesting:

– Increase in the number of judges at Dharwad Bench to reduce case backlogs across several districts it serves.
– Establishment of an Advocates Bhavan at the bench location.
– Creation of a Special Court for cases involving MPs and MLAs, and transfer of such cases from Principal Bench to Dharwad Bench.
– formation of a dedicated Green bench for environmental cases in areas like mining leases, land use policies, and pollution control issues currently heard at Principal Bench.

• During his visit, Chief Justice Bakhru reviewed administrative issues and heard all 30 listed cases.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The maiden visit by Chief justice Vibhu Bakhru underscores a direct engagement with stakeholders at the district level. The concerns raised-especially regarding judicial backlog-highlight systemic challenges affecting timely justice delivery. Proposals like increasing judge capacity or establishing specialized courts signal opportunities for improving judicial efficiency while addressing local needs effectively.

Additionally, calls for implementing dedicated Green Benches reflect growing recognition that environmental litigation requires focused attention amidst rising ecological challenges. These developments could set significant precedents if implemented judiciously but also demand adequate administrative infrastructure at secondary benches like Dharwad.

Such measures will require coordinated efforts between judiciary leadership and government bodies to ensure resource allocation aligns with these priorities while sustaining accessibility in regional courts.

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