Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court on Friday, while rejecting a plea challenging the shifting of a Court in Andhra Pradesh, orally commented about the tendency of lawyers to oppose the establishment of new courts.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a petition challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court's judgment which rejected a petition filed by the Machilipatnam Bar Association challenging the shifting of the VI Additional District and Sessions Court, Machilipatnam from Machilipatnam to Avanigadda .

Refusing to entertain the petition, CJI Gavai told the petitioner, "Whenever a new court is established, the lawyers always oppose. Courts are not only for lawyers, they are basically for litigants. We are talking about justice at doorsteps, gram nyayalayas... then all this."

The petitioner, Buragadda Ashok Kumar (who was also a petitioner before the High Court), then chose to withdraw the petition.

The High Court, while observing that the shifting of the Court to Avanigadda would lead to some inconvenience to the advocates at Machilipatnam, held that the larger interest of the litigants would be subserved upon such a shifting. The High Court noted that the litigants from the Avanigadda area would be relieved from having to traverse that distance to file their cases on each and every date of hearing.

"The justice dispensation system exists for the benefit of litigants, whose convenience and concerns weigh with the higher judiciary in taking decisions, including the decision regarding the shifting of the Court," the High Court said.

Cse : BURAGADDA ASHOK KUMAR Vs THE HONBLE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH | SLP(C) No. 17931/2025