Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Court Relocation
SC prioritizes justice access over lawyers’ objections.
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the relocation of the VI Additional District and Sessions Court from Machilipatnam to Avanigadda in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district, underscoring its commitment to delivering "justice at the doorsteps." A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran stated, “Courts exist primarily for litigants, not just lawyers. We are focused on initiatives like gram nyayalayas to bring justice closer to the people.”
The petitioner, Buragadda Ashok Kumar, withdrew the plea after the bench signaled its reluctance to intervene. The plea contested the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s decision to shift the court, which had earlier dismissed a similar challenge by the Machilipatnam Bar Association.
The high court acknowledged that the relocation might inconvenience local lawyers but emphasized that it would enhance access to justice for litigants in the region. The Supreme Court’s ruling aligns with broader efforts to make judicial services more accessible, particularly in rural areas, despite resistance from legal professionals accustomed to centralized court locations.
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