The Supreme Court on Friday underscored the principle of ensuring “justice at the doorsteps” while declining to entertain a petition challenging the relocation of a sessions court in Andhra Pradesh. The petition, which opposed the transfer of the VI Additional District and Sessions Court from Machilipatnam to Avanigadda in Krishna district, was eventually withdrawn by the petitioner.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran made pointed remarks emphasizing that the judiciary exists primarily to serve litigants, not merely the convenience of lawyers. “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 etc.,” the bench observed.
The remarks came in response to a plea filed by Buragadda Ashok Kumar, challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s earlier decision that allowed the transfer of the court. The High Court had dismissed a similar petition filed by the Machilipatnam Bar Association, ruling that the relocation—though inconvenient for some members of the legal fraternity—would better serve the interests of justice for local litigants.
Faced with the observations from the apex court bench, the petitioner chose to withdraw the plea.
