No sign yet of Circuit Benches in N Karnataka

Vijay Times, Nov 6, 2005

B D Narayankar

Bangalore: People of north Karnataka have once again been taken for a ride by the State government. They were promised that the Circuit Benches of the High Court at Dharwad and Gulbarga would start functioning from Nov 1. But no work has started as yet at the locations chosen for the purpose. It was after prolonged battles spread over three decades that the people of both the regions had forced the government to decide on sanctioning the Circuit Benches a year ago and a promise that they would start functioning by Rajyotsava day . But there is no sign of the Benches making a beginning. PWD sources told Vijay Times that the land earmarked at W almi complex in Dharwad had not yet been handed over to it (PWD) to take up construction work. The Dharwad Bench is estimated to cost Rs 66 crore. Unless the land is transferred no work could be cleared and it was only after the department cleared the works that the Finance department would release Rs 20 crore for work, the sources said. Dharwad Bar Association is bracing up for yet another battle, with its president B D Hiremath having threatened to launch an agitation if government failed to make a beginning by at least renovating the present building, pending construction of permanent structure. North Karnataka people had lost faith in the government’s good intentions, he said. At Gulbarga, former legislator Hanumanthrao Desai blasted the government for failing to keep its words. He lamented that after the foundation was laid for the Rs 67 crore Bench complex on a 50 acre land no work had been started. Chief Minister Dharam Singh and Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash had promised that the Bench would start functioning temporarily at the district court complex and housing facilities would be provided to the judges at the Aiwan-eShahi guest house. ’’But now we find that Singh and Prakash have only hoodwinked the people. They should desist from such tendency and address themselves to creating the infrastructure for the Circuit Bench,’’ Desai said. Desai also threatened that the people would launch an agitation if the government delayed its commitment any more.