Advocates to Launch Protest Seeking High Court Bench for Shivamogga

Advocates in Shivamogga, Karnataka, are set to launch a protest demanding the establishment of a High Court bench in the district. The announcement, reported by The Hindu, comes amid growing calls for decentralized judicial infrastructure to serve the region's litigants more effectively.

The demand for a High Court bench in Shivamogga has been a long-standing grievance, with local lawyers arguing that the distance to the principal bench in Bengaluru—over 250 kilometers—causes significant hardship, delays, and costs for litigants. Similar demands have been raised in other parts of Karnataka, but successive governments have cited infrastructure and financial constraints. The advocates' protest is expected to intensify pressure on the state government and the judiciary to consider the proposal.

The protest underscores broader concerns about access to justice in India, where High Court benches are concentrated in major cities. If successful, the move could set a precedent for other regions seeking judicial decentralization. However, the establishment of a new bench requires approval from the Chief Justice of India and the state government, and no timeline has been announced. Incisor News will continue to monitor developments.