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Synopsis

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to establish/set up dedicated filing counters & virtual hearings set up in District & Sessions Courts of Western Uttar Pradesh for filing and hearing the cases through hybrid mode in Allahabad High Court.

The plea has been filed on the ground that till the decision for establishing the High Court Bench in Western Uttar Pradesh is taken by the Government, dedicated centers may be made in Western Uttar Pradesh.

The plea filed by Md Anas Chaudhary submits that it raises the important issue of long time demand of people & lawyers of Western UP for the establishment of a High Court Bench in Western UP seeking easy access to justice.

It states, "Absence of permanent bench in Western Uttar Pradesh is denial of access of justice to the people of Western Uttar Pradesh."

It further argues that this is a bigger injustice for the litigants of Western Uttar Pradesh that the High Courts of 7 States including Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Haryana, Punjab & Delhi are nearer to Western UP in comparison to Allahabad High Court.

It may also be noted that recently on the question of setting up of High Court Benches the Law Minister in Parliament said that no such proposal is pending before them and this leads to disappointment to the people and lawyers of Western Uttar Pradesh.

While concluding its arguments, the plea submits that the virtual hearings are cost-effective and have led to significant economic benefits for the legal system as a whole and also for lawyers, litigant friendly too.

Case Title: Md Anas Chaudhary Vs. Union of India & Ors.