Cabinet approves Calcutta HC bench in Jalpaiguri

New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today gave its consent for the setting up of a Calcutta High Court bench at Jalpaiguri in North Bengal to meet the long-standing demand of the region.

Briefing newspersons after the Cabinet meeting here, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court has been empowered to order sittings of the judges and division courts at other places in the state with the approval of the Governor.

The Chief Justice will now have powers similar to those available to his counterparts in certain other High Courts under the relevant provisions of States Reorganisation Act, 1956; Bombay reorganisation Act, 1960; and North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

Mr Mukherjee said the President will have the power to establish by notified order, a permanent bench or benches of the Calcutta High Court after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court and the Governor of the state.

UNI BKS LR BST1458