Why in news?
Recently, West Bengal CM suggested that India should have four capitals.
What is the issue of having four capitals?
- Four capitals means that there should be Parliament buildings in three other regions & accommodation for all MPs and adjunct staff has to be constructed.
- MPs in the northern parts of the country would prefer to be in their existing accommodations while others prefer to settle in the capital close to their region.
- During Parliament sessions, MPs will descend to their envisaged capitals leaving the residential accommodations vacant for months after every session.
- This involves huge expenditure as MPs and their staffs have to fly to and from these capitals every now and then.
- In 1980s, Tamil Nadu CM proposed to shift the State capital to Tiruchirappalli but it was dropped later.
- Moreover providing security to all the MPs will be a huge burden for the State Police and also their vacant accommodations needs to be guarded round the clock.
Can this model be adopted for Supreme Court?
- In January 2021, when the Bar Councils of five southern States asked for a Supreme Court bench in south India.
- This is because all people can’t afford to travel all the way to New Delhi to engage lawyers and plead their cases.
- The exorbitant fee of the Supreme Court lawyers in New Delhi is another deterrent.
- Even the Attorney General suggested for four benches of Court of Appeal with 15 judges across the country to reduce the burden of the Supreme Court.
- This enables judges to go through each case thoroughly and deliver a well-thought-out verdict and leaving the apex court to deal with constitutional issues.
- But this requires amendment the Constitution.
- Easy accessibility to justice for every citizen is a right that cannot be countered.
Source: The Hindu
