The Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru (AAB), has written to Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, opposing the State government’s proposed move to establish a Circuit Bench of the High Court at Mangaluru for coastal districts, while terming the move “premature” and lacking any empirical basis.

In its letter dated Monday, AAB stated that reports in a section of the media indicate that the State government is considering allotment of land for setting up a Bench of the High Court at Mangaluru to cater to the coastal districts.

The letter has been signed by AAB president Vivek Subba Reddy, general secretary H.V. Praveen Gowda, vice-president Girish Kumar C.S., and treasurer Shwetha Ravishankar.

Objecting to the proposal, the association said that “any such move initiated without proper consultation with stakeholders and without conducting any empirical or statistical study regarding the actual necessity of a Bench would be wholly unwarranted”.

The association stated that bar associations across Karnataka had expressed “serious reservations and objections” to any attempt at further splitting or subdividing the principal seat at Bengaluru, and existing Benches of the High Court at Dharwad and Kalaburagi.

“The AAB also records its strong and unequivocal opposition to the said proposal,” the association added, while claiming that the move appeared to be “motivated to appease certain regional sentiments” than by any genuine judicial or administrative necessity.

“The coastal region comprises only three districts, and establishment of a separate Bench exclusively for such limited territorial jurisdiction would neither be justified nor economically prudent. No comprehensive study had been undertaken to assess the pendency of cases, accessibility concerns, judicial infrastructure requirements, or the broader administrative implications of such a decision,” the letter further stated.

According to the association, “proliferation of multiple smaller Benches would gradually dilute the stature, unity and constitutional significance of the High Court as an institution”. The association has warned that “fragmentation could adversely affect uniformity and consistency in judicial administration across the State.

The association urged the Chief Justice to reject any proposal forwarded by the State government in this regard and requested that no decision be taken without first consulting all affected stakeholders, including bar associations from Bengaluru, Madikeri, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and Karwar.

The letter also noted that several bar associations from the regions concerned had already expressed opposition to the establishment of such a Bench.