Law Commission report 2009:
- Recommendation: The Law Commission, in its report submitted to the government in 2009, recommended that –
- a Constitution Bench be set up in Delhi to deal with constitutional and allied issues, and
- four Cassation Benches in Delhi (north), Chennai/Hyderabad (south), Kolkata (east) and Mumbai (west) to deal with all appellate work arising out of the orders/judgments of the High Courts.
- Arguments in favour:
- It is high time we had more benches because in a country as vast as India the litigants have to travel long distances and spend a huge amount of money and energy.
- Setting up Benches outside Delhi would neither impair unity and integrity nor undermine the importance of the Supreme Court.
- Way ahead:
- According to the Law Commission, If Article 130 is liberally interpreted, no constitutional amendment may be required for setting up Cassation Benches in four regions and a Constitution Bench at Delhi.
- If it is found that Article 130 cannot be stretched to make it possible to implement the recommendations, Parliament should enact suitable legislation/constitutional amendment for this purpose.”
