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.
