Expectations rise after Agra MP’S induction in Union ministry
AGRA: With Agra MP Prof SP Singh Baghel having been appointed as Union minister of state for law and justice, there is an expectation in some quarters here that the move would give a fillip to the long-standing demand for establishing a high court bench in the Taj city.
For his part, the new minister has chosen to be circumspect on the issue. When asked about the demand, Baghel avoided a categorical reply. He listed better air connectivity for Agra, the Agra Barrage and IT Park as his priorities in the new role.
“I have just recently taken charge as the new minister of state for law and justice in the Union council of ministers and (am) currently going through the details of the ministry allocated to me,” he said.
“I am aware of various demands pending since long, including that of the high court bench at Agra. I will certainly discuss my responsibilities and would take up all pending issues after understanding the procedures and formalities of the ministry,” Baghel said.
Baghel’s swearing-in as Union minister of state was greeted with enthusiasm in the city. Former Agra MP Ram Shankar Katheria extended his good wishes to him and said his inclusion in the Union ministry would pave the way for the high court bench at Agra.
On the other hand, lawyers in Agra said while not much may change merely because of the elevation of the Agra MP, the development could add some weight to their demand.
“We are going to organise a meeting of lawyers before taking a delegation to our MP and minister of state for law and justice.
He could now well arrange our meeting with the Union law minister and, for that sake, with the prime minister even,” said Arun Solanki, secretary of the Action Committee for Establishment of the High Court Bench at Agra.
“Prof SP Singh Baghel had been raising his voice for the high court bench at Agra. He was even arrested on September 5, 2001 when he was the Samajwadi Party MP during the agitation for the high court bench at
Kalal Kheria in Agra. We are confident that he would stand by the lawyers from Agra,” said Solanki.
Chaudhary Ajay Singh, a lawyer leading the “janmanch” created to press for the high court bench, said the induction of the Agra MP in the Union council of ministers would give a fillip to the cause.
“It is no secret that because of various factors, the agitation for the high court bench at Agra had witnessed a decline. Having our MP as the new minister of state for law and justice would certainly revive hopes,” Ajay Singh said. A delegation of Yuva Adhivakta Sangh headed by Nitin Verma visited Delhi to place forth the demand before the new minister.
“We were told by the minister that they have to stay in Delhi till August 15 to understand the working of the allocated ministries. He assured to meet the lawyers when he visits Agra,” Verma said.
An agitation spanning decades
Senior lawyers proudly say the civil court premises of Agra was once the seat of the high court from 1866 to 1869. The high court was shifted to Allahabad in 1869, just 12 years after the First War of Independence in 1857.
In 1966, centenary celebrations were held both in Agra and Allahabad to mark 100 years of the high court in Uttar Pradesh.
In 1956, a conference was organised on the Agra civil court premises, sowing the seeds of an agitation for a high court bench here.in 1980, the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Narain Dutt Tiwari raised the issue with then Prime Minister the late Indira Gandhi.
The then prime minister constituted a three- member judicial commission headed by Justice
Jaswant Singh. The commission travelled extensively through western UP and, in 1985, opted for Agra as the best location for the high court bench.
Lawyers in Agra agitated to have the recommendation tabled in Parliament. They staged a march till Delhi and the report was published in 1986. The agitation grew in strength even as the commission’s recommendation was not implemented.
On September 26, 2001, a large number of policemen entered the civil court premises. The agitating lawyers were canecharged, leading to constitution of a judicial probe headed by Justice Girdhar Malviya later.
The high court bench issue resurfaces before every election and the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls appear to be no different. Lawyers in Meerut too are demanding a high court bench in their city.