Why Centre Has Most Shamelessly Deprived West UP From Having Even A Single High Court Bench?

s/o Col (Retd) BPS Sirohi, A 82, Defence Enclave, Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera, Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.

A 82, Defence Enclave,

Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera,

Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.

It is most shocking that UP which is among the largest States, has maximum population – more than 26 crore as CM Yogi Adityanath and so also PM Narendra Modi always so very proudly claims which means more than even Pakistan at 25 crores, maximum districts - 76, maximum constituencies - 80, maximum MPs – 80, maximum MLAs - 404, maximum PM including Narendra Modi who represents Varanasi as an MP, maximum pending cases – more than 11 lakh in Allahabad High Court and here too West UP accounts for more than half of pending cases as noted by Justice Jaswant Commission about 57% and now after so many decades the percentage of pending cases in West UP has gone substantially much higher with Dr Laxmi Kant Vajpayee who is Rajya Sabha MP of BJP while demanding two High Court Benches in Parliament for West UP at Meerut and Agra pointing out that West UP owes for 63 percent of pending cases of UP and two High Court Benches at Gorakhpur and Varanasi, maximum cases in lower courts about to touch 1 crore, maximum Judges both in High Court – 160 and also in lower courts, maximum vacancies of Judges both in H

It is definitely most refreshing to learn just now from one of the most eminent, senior, distinguished and learned lawyer of Meerut Bar Association – Mr Vishal Bharti Sharma with many decades of rich experience and deep expertise in legal profession acknowledged all over that Rajya Sabha MP – Dr Laxmi Kant Vajpayee has raised in ‘Zero Hour’ the age old most legitimate and compelling demand for a High Court Bench in West UP and on basis of huge pending cases from West UP has termed it as “most legally justified”. Vajpayee pointed out that even earlier, the then Union Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj when former PM late Mr Rajiv Gandhi was PM had backed this most compelling demand and is 50 years old demand. Vajpayee said that 61 districts come under Prayagraj and 18 under Lucknow which is unjustified and happening under pressure from Allahabad which is unbalanced division and we will now take High Court Bench in West UP.

Laxmi Kant Vajpayee also pointed out that 63 percent of cases in Allahabad High Court are from West UP and more than 10 lakh cases are pending which is highest among all States. He said that former PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee also in 1986 had supported as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha this most legitimate demand for High Court Bench in West UP and raised it in Parliament. Apart from this, he said that former UP CM Dr Sampoornanand, ND Tiwari, Ram Naresh Yadav, Babu Banarsi Das and Mayawati had also endorsed this proposal for creation of High Court Bench in West UP!

Vajpayee also mentioned about the decision of Supreme Court in this regard. He said that in 1997 in Nasruddin vs State Transport Appeal Tribunal case 1997 AIR SC 313, the full Bench of Supreme Court had explained UP High Court Amalgamation Order 1948 in para 7 and 14. He said that Apex Court had ruled that in Allahabad there is no permanent seat of High Court and seat of Allahabad and Lucknow Bench can be changed. He said that Mumbai High Court Bench can be given for Kolhapur for just 6 districts then why not for 30 districts of West UP where this more than 50 years old demand is still pending? It was 70 years ago that Dr Sampoornanand as UP CM had recommended High Court Bench in West UP in Meerut in 1955!

Earlier also Vajpayee just like now had most forcefully demanded four High Court Benches in Uttar Pradesh at Meerut, Agra, Gorakhpur and Banaras. I would say that five high court benches at least minimum must be created in UP with one at Bundelkhand in Jhansi also. Even Ruchi Veera who is MP from Moradabad just recently also demanded High Court Bench in West UP and said that it is a dire necessity and will keep raising till a High Court Bench is created in West UP! But Centre is shamelessly not allowing even a single Circuit Bench in UP in last nearly 80 years of independence other than in Lucknow so close to Allahabad where there was just no need for a High Court Bench way back in 1948!

From a layman’s perspective, it must be said that there is huge resentment brewing among people that why big States like UP and Rajasthan have only one High Court Bench and here too why West UP which owes for majority of pending cases has been deprived from having even a single Bench not even a Circuit Bench most shamelessly! The more the time changes, the more things remain the same when it comes to setting up of High Court Bench in West UP despite Justice Jaswant Singh Commission appointed by Centre itself headed by former Supreme Court Judge recommended permanent seat of High Court Bench yet 50 years later not even a Circuit Bench created till date! This begs the all-important question: What has Centre achieved by doing so?

Denial of even a single Bench to West UP is not only just unacceptable but also blatantly unconstitutional! The core of my argument is: Centre has been most biased in ensuring that West UP with 30 districts and more than 10 crore people be deprived from having not even a single Bench not even a Circuit Bench for which it cannot wash its hands off by blaming someone else for it! But the saddest part is rarely gets any focus from national media and national news channels which makes for most depressing reading!

What exacerbates matters is Centre stonewalling any attempt to create a Bench in West UP or any other part of UP except Eastern UP! One can say without a shred of doubt that Centre has been most partial in distribution of High Courts and High Court Benches in different regions and different States without any prima facie reason to justify it! How long will Centre remain pregnant on possibility of the creation of a High Court Bench in West UP like we keep hearing Union Law Minister Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal saying time and again that Meerut in West UP is among top ten places where Centre is contemplating to set up a High Court Bench but till date do nothing to ensure that pregnancy is not aborted as has been the past track record till now? How quickly fifth High Court Bench in Kolhapur set up on August 18, 2025 for just 6 districts is known all too well on which Union Law Minister said nothing earlier!

From a legal standpoint, it is UP which tops the State list in having maximum number of pending cases and so also has maximum population and here too it is West UP which owes for majority of pending cases of UP and still leave alone High Court or Bench not even a Circuit Bench Centre is ready to concede most disgracefully and most mercilessly the litigants of 30 districts of West UP with more than 10 crore people attached with not even Lucknow which falls much earlier but right uptill Allahabad most astoundingly which is already overburdened with huge pending cases! I often find myself battling with a moot question: Why is Centre so hell bent in denying West UP even a single Bench and thwarting all chances of creating even a Circuit Bench most spinelessly without any remorse or regret? Perhaps the saddest part is even Apex Court has not stepped forward to ensure that West UP gets a High Court Bench which it so richly deserves also!

This Bench issue in West UP will undoubtedly refuse to just die down unless and until it is addressed permanently by creating a High Court Bench in any of the districts of West UP. Centre has no “jadu ki chadi” or “magic wand” to reduce huge backlog of pending cases in Allahabad High Court but creation of High Court Bench in West UP and other needy regions can go a long way in playing an instrumental role in reducing it to a large extent! If this worst discrimination is not addressed now, the concept of equality as enshrined in Article 14 of Constitution as fundamental right will remain only on paper! One is left wondering aloud that, “Why Supreme Court is tolerating most merciless discrimination in judiciary in distribution of High Court Benches in different regions and different States?”

Indian democracy is sinking into worst morass because of all this and most of national media, national newspapers and so also national news channels don’t ever bring out this worst discrimination perpetrated in judiciary itself! One question keeps haunting me: How long will Centre keep on displaying cringeworthy obeisance to the most powerful vested lobby which is just bothered for its own vested interests and care two hoots for the huge sufferings which litigants of West UP face due to absence of even a Circuit Bench in West UP leave alone having a permanent Bench or separate High Court as ideally it should be as was recommended also by Dr BR Ambedkar!

It cannot be denied any longer that creation of fifth High Court Bench in Kolhapur in Maharashtra for just 6 districts with a population barely touching one crore while depriving West UP with 30 districts and more than 10 crore people of West UP even a single High Court Bench as recommended by Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by a former Supreme Court Judge appointed by Centre itself which recommended permanent seat of High Court Bench in West UP about 50 years ago not even a Circuit Bench has opened a new Pandora’s box on how brazenly Centre is most proudly discriminating in distribution of High Court Benches in different regions and different States without any tinge of remorse or regret! This is the real rub!

It is a matter of supreme irony that the most populated State of India that is Uttar Pradesh which tops the State list with maximum number of pending cases has just one High Court Bench at Lucknow so close to Allahabad in Eastern UP created 78 years ago in July 1948 and West UP which owes for majority of pending cases of Allahabad High Court has been attached with not even Lucknow which falls much earlier but right uptill Allahabad to seek justice which in itself is the biggest betrayal of Constitution, deepest burial of justice and worst mockery of poorest litigants of 30 districts of West UP who have to travel whole night and nearly a day by train about 700 to 800 km on average most shockingly! Even Lahore High Court in Pakistan is just 430 km away from West UP and so also High Court or Bench of 8 different States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh among others are closer to West UP than Allahabad High Court which is more than 700 to 800 km from most of the distric

On 17 December, 2025 there was complete shutdown of West UP and lawyers of West UP also boycotted court proceedings from December 15 to December 17 in protest against West UP not being given even a single High Court Bench since last about 80 years even though West UP contributes maximum to State’s economy and yet litigants are made to suffer not only just financially but also mentally and physically by being made to travel most foolishly till not even Lucknow but right uptill Allahabad most astoundingly yet neither the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court nor the Chief Justice of India nor any Judge of Allahabad High Court or Supreme Court ever bother to take suo motu cognizance of this open dacoity and worst discrimination perpetrated in judiciary itself right under the nose of Apex Court and Allahabad High Court! This despite the most irrefutable fact that Dr BR Ambedkar recommended separate Statehood itself for West UP and separate High Court and Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by fo

UP would never have been partitioned if Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court or Chief Justice of India had taken suo motu cognizance of open dacoity in implementation of Justice Jaswant Singh Commission Report headed by former Supreme Court Judge appointed by Centre itself who recommended maximum three High Court Benches for undivided UP and yet not one created and Maharashtra which already had multiple High Court Benches in Nagpur and Panaji was given straightaway one more at Aurangabad for just 7 districts then as recommended even though Maharashtra already had multiple High Court Benches at Nagpur and Panaji just like for Jalpaiguri in West Bengal for 5 districts which already had High Court Bench in Port Blair and so also at Madurai in Tamil Nadu even though population of Tamil Nadu is far less than even West UP! Two High Court Circuit Benches recommended by Justice Jaswant Singh Commission for hilly areas of undivided UP at Dehradun and Nainital yet not one created which culminated in resen

By the way, Maharashtra is not most populated State of India nor has maximum number of pending cases and still has so many High Court Benches – five maximum among all States while big States like UP and Rajasthan having only one each and lawless Bihar with more population than Maharashtra not even one just like Orissa and UP which has more than double the population of Maharashtra has just one and that too so close to Allahabad at Lucknow and litigants of 30 districts of West UP attached with not even Lucknow but right uptill Allahabad which means whole night and nearly a day wasted in just travelling alone about 700 to 750 km on average by train while Kolhapur and adjoining districts averages 350 to 380 km and still one more High Court Bench in Kolhapur for just 6 districts started functioning from Aug 18, 2025! Why is Supreme Court not taking suo motu cognizance of non-implementation of Justice Jaswant Singh Commission report in West UP even after horrible partition of UP 25 years ago due to th

What is Supreme Court meant for when right to equality as enshrined in Article 14 of Constitution is trampled upon most horrendously and most mercilessly by Centre by shamelessly perpetrating most third rated worst discrimination perpetrated in distribution of High Courts, High Court Benches and High Court Circuit Benches in different States and different regions without any rhyme or reason? The sole hegemony of few elite regions like Eastern UP having both High Court at Allahabad and a single High Court Bench at Lucknow so close to each other is continuing uninterrupted for nearly 80 years and so also few elite States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Assam in having multiple High Court Benches is continuing uninterrupted for so long and yet Supreme Court by never taking suo motu cognizance of it has disgraced itself most horribly leaving its reputation in tatters on this front! This must definitely end now!

To survive and thrive, India must go beyond empowering just five elite States – Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal with multiple High Court Benches leaving all other 24 States in the cold without any prima facie reason for the same not sparing even big States like UP, Rajasthan and lawless Bihar among others! Centre must act now or risk falling irreversibly behind! Centre’s approach is definitely not in consonance with what is enshrined in Article 14 of Constitution! Being the world’s largest democracy, it is high time that the merciless discrimination in distribution of High Court Benches in different States and different regions is abolished most promptly altogether as it brooks no more delay any longer now!

Most disconcertingly, we see that Centre’s step-motherly treatment for big States like UP, lawless Bihar and Rajasthan and Orissa is starkly evident! The most telling part is: Even Apex Court has never spared time to catch the bull by the horns by taking suo motu cognizance of such a most pressing issue directly concerning judiciary itself! The soul of Indian Constitution that is Article 14 envisaging right to equality as fundamental right is being trampled upon most ruthlessly by Centre in depriving West UP from having even a single Bench just like lawless Bihar, Orissa among others yet Apex Court is not willing to take suo motu cognizance of it till date!

When Supreme Court can address gender inequality by ordering 30 percent reservation for women lawyers in State Bar Councils then why regional and State inequality cannot be addressed by ordering High Court Bench in West UP? It definitely merits course correction at earliest to salvage its lost reputation on this count and must do some honest and serious self introspection on it! It brooks no more delay any longer now!

The most critical question is: Why Supreme Court never dares to lash out ever at this most brazen, blind, brutal, blatant and baseless discrimination perpetrated in distribution of High Court Benches in not only different States but also different regions like in UP it is only Eastern UP alone which has both High Court and High Court Bench leaving other regions completely unrepresented including hilly areas as long as it formed part of UP which was prime reason for partition of undivided UP 25 years ago, West UP, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand? Why the hell Supreme Court has tolerated most absurdly for so long and is still tolerating such most worst form of dastardly, divisive and double standard absurd discrimination perpetrated against different regions of same State like in UP or between different States and so also in allocating Statehood to different States? Over and above all, how can Centre and top court most mercilessly and most groundlessly keep favouring baseless, blatant and bru

By any reckoning, every person with even a minimal of knowledge on Constitution knows fully well that Supreme Court is duty bound to act and speak up for litigants of 30 districts of West UP with more than 10 crores people and so also of lawless Bihar which has not even a single High Court Circuit Bench and in stark contrast, smaller States like Karnataka have multiple High Court Benches without any prima facie reason at Dharwad and Gulbarga for just few districts yet never seen any suo motu cognizance being taken by Supreme Court even though it directly pertains to judiciary itself which definitely makes for most depressing reading! It is a no-brainer that the merciless, unjustified and absurd discrimination perpetrated in distribution of High Courts and High Court Benches and High Court Circuit Benches in different states and different regions cannot be ever justified under any circumstances! It is an unfortunate remnant of deeply entrenched bias not set right even after near

Leave alone creating two High Court Benches in Uttar Pradesh as in Karnataka in 2008 first as High Court Circuit Benches and then in 2013 as permanent High Court Benches for just four and eight districts only at Gulbarga and Dharwad respectively, Centre for 30 districts has most appallingly kicked out the most strongest recommendation that had been made by Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by a former Supreme Court Judge appointed by Centre itself for creation of High Court Bench in West UP at Agra in mid 1980s while having just no compunction to create High Court Bench in Aurangabad in Maharashtra for just 9 districts which already had multiple High Court Benches in Nagpur for just 10 districts and at Panaji for just 2 districts! As if this was not enough, we see most recently fifth High Court Bench in Maharashtra at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra has started functioning from 18.08.2025 for just 6 districts with shockingly only just 1.64 crore people! What is happenin

In 2014, we saw how Telangana with just 3.5 crore people given separate Statehood itself on June 2, 2014 and so also separate High Court at Hyderabad and separate capital and Andhra Pradesh with population of just 4 crores also given separate High Court at Amaravati after partition in 2014 and a High Court Bench also approved by State Assembly at Kurnool and another at Visakhapatnam is under active consideration! As the curtains on 2025 are about to fall, we see that not even a single High Court Circuit Bench created for 30 districts of West UP with more than 10 crore people and we see no end of dark tunnel yet while for just 6 districts in Maharashtra, fifth High Court Bench started functioning from Kolhapur on August 18, 2025! The most serious question that has bubbled up to the fore is: Why has Centre so unscrupulously denied West UP with more than 10 crore people even a single High Court Circuit Bench which deserves separate High Court as recommended by Dr BR Ambedkar

In any case, it has now definitely warmed the innermost cockles of my heart and mind to read that none other than one of the most eminent former Supreme Court Judge Hon’ble Mr Justice Markandey Katju who has himself practiced in Allahabad High Court from 1970 to 1991 with specialization in Taxation, Labour Laws and Writ Petition and is one of the most distinguished jurists that India has ever produced known all across the globe and was also appointed Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court in August 2004 and so also was Chief Justice of Madras High Court in November 2004 and also of Delhi High Court in October 2005 has in a eye-opener blog titled: “The Demand For A Western Bench Of Allahabad HC Is Justified” published on September 24, 2025 in website named “Medium” written that, “While I do not approve of blocking roads, I believe that the demand for a bench of the Allahabad High Court in western Uttar Pradesh is fully justified. The reason is simple: litigants of western UP

In conclusion, Centre must definitely pay heed to what Mr Laxmi Kant Vajpayee who is also former BJP President of UP State unit with many decades of rich experience as MP and in other capacities as well has pointed out in Parliament just recently while demanding two High Court Benches in West UP at Meerut and Agra and overall four in UP with two others at Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Why Centre finds itself in a predicament in an “open and shut” case? Depriving West UP from having not just multiple High Court Benches as Vajpayee had demanded even earlier but even a single High Court Bench is bereft of any logic and is nothing but absurdity of the highest order which must be discarded at the earliest! It merits just no reiteration that the age old demand for a High Court Bench in West UP is fully justified and is long overdue which definitely must be created at the earliest as it brooks no more delay any longer now! No denying or disputing it!

Much water has flown down the bridge since India became independent in 1947 but the most stark truth is that even nearly 80 years later in December 2025, we see that West UP is without a High Court Bench which is definitely most deplorable, most dangerous, most self destructive and most discriminatory that even Supreme Court has dared not to ever intervene even when UP was undivided! Why Supreme Court has so quietly tolerated such dastardly discrimination in distribution of High Court Benches in different States and in different regions? If this is not the biggest tight slap on Constitution and Dr BR Ambedkar, then what else is? Dr BR Ambedkar had recommended separate Statehood itself for West UP! I just don’t buy any rubbish argument forwarded by Centre to deny West UP even a single High Court Bench even when UP was undivided and Centre knows fully well that the High Courts and Benches of eight States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh amon

It must be asked: Why this High Court Bench issue in West UP has most mysteriously remained in limbo for so long? Why can’t Centre bury the hatchet and move forward to balance the regional imbalance of Eastern UP having both High Court at Allahabad and a single Bench at Lucknow so close to each other and West UP inspite of owing for majority of pending cases of UP for whom Justice Jaswant Singh Commission recommended permanent seat of High Court Bench yet even after nearly 50 years not even a Bench created nor even a Circuit Bench created! What I find most deeply unsettling is that even now we see that neither the Supreme Court nor Centre is ready to open its eyes and take most concrete action to dismember the most historical, Himalayan blunder committed about 80 years ago! Denying West UP and Bihar even a single High Court Bench is not just illogical but also deeply insensitive, deeply flawed and most deeply discriminatory also that has gone unnoticed, unchecked and unaddressed for so long

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,

s/o Col (Retd) BPS Sirohi,

A 82, Defence Enclave,

Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera,

Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.

Legal Article

Why Centre Has Most Shamelessly Deprived West UP From Having Even A Single High Court Bench?

It is most shocking that UP which is among the largest States, has maximum population – more than 26 crore as CM Yogi Adityanath and so also PM Narendra Modi always so very proudly claims which means more than even Pakistan at 25 crores, maximum districts - 76, maximum constituencies - 80, maximum MPs – 80, maximum MLAs - 404, maximum PM including Narendra Modi who represents Varanasi as an MP, maximum pending cases – more than 11 lakh in Allahabad High Court and here too West UP accounts for more than half of pending cases as noted by Justice Jaswant Commission about 57% and now after so many decades the percentage of pending cases in West UP has gone substantially much higher with Dr Laxmi Kant Vajpayee who is Rajya Sabha MP of BJP while demanding two High Court Benches in Parliament for West UP at Meerut and Agra pointing out that West UP owes for 63 percent of pending cases of UP and two High Court Benches at Gorakhpur and Varanasi, maximum cases in lower courts about to touch 1 crore, maximum Judges both in High Court – 160 and also in lower courts, maximum vacancies of Judges both in H

It is definitely most refreshing to learn just now from one of the most eminent, senior, distinguished and learned lawyer of Meerut Bar Association – Mr Vishal Bharti Sharma with many decades of rich experience and deep expertise in legal profession acknowledged all over that Rajya Sabha MP – Dr Laxmi Kant Vajpayee has raised in ‘Zero Hour’ the age old most legitimate and compelling demand for a High Court Bench in West UP and on basis of huge pending cases from West UP has termed it as “most legally justified”. Vajpayee pointed out that even earlier, the then Union Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj when former PM late Mr Rajiv Gandhi was PM had backed this most compelling demand and is 50 years old demand. Vajpayee said that 61 districts come under Prayagraj and 18 under Lucknow which is unjustified and happening under pressure from Allahabad which is unbalanced division and we will now take High Court Bench in West UP.

Laxmi Kant Vajpayee also pointed out that 63 percent of cases in Allahabad High Court are from West UP and more than 10 lakh cases are pending which is highest among all States. He said that former PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee also in 1986 had supported as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha this most legitimate demand for High Court Bench in West UP and raised it in Parliament. Apart from this, he said that former UP CM Dr Sampoornanand, ND Tiwari, Ram Naresh Yadav, Babu Banarsi Das and Mayawati had also endorsed this proposal for creation of High Court Bench in West UP!

Vajpayee also mentioned about the decision of Supreme Court in this regard. He said that in 1997 in Nasruddin vs State Transport Appeal Tribunal case 1997 AIR SC 313, the full Bench of Supreme Court had explained UP High Court Amalgamation Order 1948 in para 7 and 14. He said that Apex Court had ruled that in Allahabad there is no permanent seat of High Court and seat of Allahabad and Lucknow Bench can be changed. He said that Mumbai High Court Bench can be given for Kolhapur for just 6 districts then why not for 30 districts of West UP where this more than 50 years old demand is still pending? It was 70 years ago that Dr Sampoornanand as UP CM had recommended High Court Bench in West UP in Meerut in 1955!

Earlier also Vajpayee just like now had most forcefully demanded four High Court Benches in Uttar Pradesh at Meerut, Agra, Gorakhpur and Banaras. I would say that five high court benches at least minimum must be created in UP with one at Bundelkhand in Jhansi also. Even Ruchi Veera who is MP from Moradabad just recently also demanded High Court Bench in West UP and said that it is a dire necessity and will keep raising till a High Court Bench is created in West UP! But Centre is shamelessly not allowing even a single Circuit Bench in UP in last nearly 80 years of independence other than in Lucknow so close to Allahabad where there was just no need for a High Court Bench way back in 1948!

From a layman’s perspective, it must be said that there is huge resentment brewing among people that why big States like UP and Rajasthan have only one High Court Bench and here too why West UP which owes for majority of pending cases has been deprived from having even a single Bench not even a Circuit Bench most shamelessly! The more the time changes, the more things remain the same when it comes to setting up of High Court Bench in West UP despite Justice Jaswant Singh Commission appointed by Centre itself headed by former Supreme Court Judge recommended permanent seat of High Court Bench yet 50 years later not even a Circuit Bench created till date! This begs the all-important question: What has Centre achieved by doing so?

Denial of even a single Bench to West UP is not only just unacceptable but also blatantly unconstitutional! The core of my argument is: Centre has been most biased in ensuring that West UP with 30 districts and more than 10 crore people be deprived from having not even a single Bench not even a Circuit Bench for which it cannot wash its hands off by blaming someone else for it! But the saddest part is rarely gets any focus from national media and national news channels which makes for most depressing reading!

What exacerbates matters is Centre stonewalling any attempt to create a Bench in West UP or any other part of UP except Eastern UP! One can say without a shred of doubt that Centre has been most partial in distribution of High Courts and High Court Benches in different regions and different States without any prima facie reason to justify it! How long will Centre remain pregnant on possibility of the creation of a High Court Bench in West UP like we keep hearing Union Law Minister Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal saying time and again that Meerut in West UP is among top ten places where Centre is contemplating to set up a High Court Bench but till date do nothing to ensure that pregnancy is not aborted as has been the past track record till now? How quickly fifth High Court Bench in Kolhapur set up on August 18, 2025 for just 6 districts is known all too well on which Union Law Minister said nothing earlier!

From a legal standpoint, it is UP which tops the State list in having maximum number of pending cases and so also has maximum population and here too it is West UP which owes for majority of pending cases of UP and still leave alone High Court or Bench not even a Circuit Bench Centre is ready to concede most disgracefully and most mercilessly the litigants of 30 districts of West UP with more than 10 crore people attached with not even Lucknow which falls much earlier but right uptill Allahabad most astoundingly which is already overburdened with huge pending cases! I often find myself battling with a moot question: Why is Centre so hell bent in denying West UP even a single Bench and thwarting all chances of creating even a Circuit Bench most spinelessly without any remorse or regret? Perhaps the saddest part is even Apex Court has not stepped forward to ensure that West UP gets a High Court Bench which it so richly deserves also!

This Bench issue in West UP will undoubtedly refuse to just die down unless and until it is addressed permanently by creating a High Court Bench in any of the districts of West UP. Centre has no “jadu ki chadi” or “magic wand” to reduce huge backlog of pending cases in Allahabad High Court but creation of High Court Bench in West UP and other needy regions can go a long way in playing an instrumental role in reducing it to a large extent! If this worst discrimination is not addressed now, the concept of equality as enshrined in Article 14 of Constitution as fundamental right will remain only on paper! One is left wondering aloud that, “Why Supreme Court is tolerating most merciless discrimination in judiciary in distribution of High Court Benches in different regions and different States?”

Indian democracy is sinking into worst morass because of all this and most of national media, national newspapers and so also national news channels don’t ever bring out this worst discrimination perpetrated in judiciary itself! One question keeps haunting me: How long will Centre keep on displaying cringeworthy obeisance to the most powerful vested lobby which is just bothered for its own vested interests and care two hoots for the huge sufferings which litigants of West UP face due to absence of even a Circuit Bench in West UP leave alone having a permanent Bench or separate High Court as ideally it should be as was recommended also by Dr BR Ambedkar!

It cannot be denied any longer that creation of fifth High Court Bench in Kolhapur in Maharashtra for just 6 districts with a population barely touching one crore while depriving West UP with 30 districts and more than 10 crore people of West UP even a single High Court Bench as recommended by Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by a former Supreme Court Judge appointed by Centre itself which recommended permanent seat of High Court Bench in West UP about 50 years ago not even a Circuit Bench has opened a new Pandora’s box on how brazenly Centre is most proudly discriminating in distribution of High Court Benches in different regions and different States without any tinge of remorse or regret! This is the real rub!

It is a matter of supreme irony that the most populated State of India that is Uttar Pradesh which tops the State list with maximum number of pending cases has just one High Court Bench at Lucknow so close to Allahabad in Eastern UP created 78 years ago in July 1948 and West UP which owes for majority of pending cases of Allahabad High Court has been attached with not even Lucknow which falls much earlier but right uptill Allahabad to seek justice which in itself is the biggest betrayal of Constitution, deepest burial of justice and worst mockery of poorest litigants of 30 districts of West UP who have to travel whole night and nearly a day by train about 700 to 800 km on average most shockingly! Even Lahore High Court in Pakistan is just 430 km away from West UP and so also High Court or Bench of 8 different States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh among others are closer to West UP than Allahabad High Court which is more than 700 to 800 km from most of the distric

On 17 December, 2025 there was complete shutdown of West UP and lawyers of West UP also boycotted court proceedings from December 15 to December 17 in protest against West UP not being given even a single High Court Bench since last about 80 years even though West UP contributes maximum to State’s economy and yet litigants are made to suffer not only just financially but also mentally and physically by being made to travel most foolishly till not even Lucknow but right uptill Allahabad most astoundingly yet neither the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court nor the Chief Justice of India nor any Judge of Allahabad High Court or Supreme Court ever bother to take suo motu cognizance of this open dacoity and worst discrimination perpetrated in judiciary itself right under the nose of Apex Court and Allahabad High Court! This despite the most irrefutable fact that Dr BR Ambedkar recommended separate Statehood itself for West UP and separate High Court and Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by fo

UP would never have been partitioned if Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court or Chief Justice of India had taken suo motu cognizance of open dacoity in implementation of Justice Jaswant Singh Commission Report headed by former Supreme Court Judge appointed by Centre itself who recommended maximum three High Court Benches for undivided UP and yet not one created and Maharashtra which already had multiple High Court Benches in Nagpur and Panaji was given straightaway one more at Aurangabad for just 7 districts then as recommended even though Maharashtra already had multiple High Court Benches at Nagpur and Panaji just like for Jalpaiguri in West Bengal for 5 districts which already had High Court Bench in Port Blair and so also at Madurai in Tamil Nadu even though population of Tamil Nadu is far less than even West UP! Two High Court Circuit Benches recommended by Justice Jaswant Singh Commission for hilly areas of undivided UP at Dehradun and Nainital yet not one created which culminated in resen

By the way, Maharashtra is not most populated State of India nor has maximum number of pending cases and still has so many High Court Benches – five maximum among all States while big States like UP and Rajasthan having only one each and lawless Bihar with more population than Maharashtra not even one just like Orissa and UP which has more than double the population of Maharashtra has just one and that too so close to Allahabad at Lucknow and litigants of 30 districts of West UP attached with not even Lucknow but right uptill Allahabad which means whole night and nearly a day wasted in just travelling alone about 700 to 750 km on average by train while Kolhapur and adjoining districts averages 350 to 380 km and still one more High Court Bench in Kolhapur for just 6 districts started functioning from Aug 18, 2025! Why is Supreme Court not taking suo motu cognizance of non-implementation of Justice Jaswant Singh Commission report in West UP even after horrible partition of UP 25 years ago due to th

What is Supreme Court meant for when right to equality as enshrined in Article 14 of Constitution is trampled upon most horrendously and most mercilessly by Centre by shamelessly perpetrating most third rated worst discrimination perpetrated in distribution of High Courts, High Court Benches and High Court Circuit Benches in different States and different regions without any rhyme or reason? The sole hegemony of few elite regions like Eastern UP having both High Court at Allahabad and a single High Court Bench at Lucknow so close to each other is continuing uninterrupted for nearly 80 years and so also few elite States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Assam in having multiple High Court Benches is continuing uninterrupted for so long and yet Supreme Court by never taking suo motu cognizance of it has disgraced itself most horribly leaving its reputation in tatters on this front! This must definitely end now!

To survive and thrive, India must go beyond empowering just five elite States – Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal with multiple High Court Benches leaving all other 24 States in the cold without any prima facie reason for the same not sparing even big States like UP, Rajasthan and lawless Bihar among others! Centre must act now or risk falling irreversibly behind! Centre’s approach is definitely not in consonance with what is enshrined in Article 14 of Constitution! Being the world’s largest democracy, it is high time that the merciless discrimination in distribution of High Court Benches in different States and different regions is abolished most promptly altogether as it brooks no more delay any longer now!

Most disconcertingly, we see that Centre’s step-motherly treatment for big States like UP, lawless Bihar and Rajasthan and Orissa is starkly evident! The most telling part is: Even Apex Court has never spared time to catch the bull by the horns by taking suo motu cognizance of such a most pressing issue directly concerning judiciary itself! The soul of Indian Constitution that is Article 14 envisaging right to equality as fundamental right is being trampled upon most ruthlessly by Centre in depriving West UP from having even a single Bench just like lawless Bihar, Orissa among others yet Apex Court is not willing to take suo motu cognizance of it till date!

When Supreme Court can address gender inequality by ordering 30 percent reservation for women lawyers in State Bar Councils then why regional and State inequality cannot be addressed by ordering High Court Bench in West UP? It definitely merits course correction at earliest to salvage its lost reputation on this count and must do some honest and serious self introspection on it! It brooks no more delay any longer now!

The most critical question is: Why Supreme Court never dares to lash out ever at this most brazen, blind, brutal, blatant and baseless discrimination perpetrated in distribution of High Court Benches in not only different States but also different regions like in UP it is only Eastern UP alone which has both High Court and High Court Bench leaving other regions completely unrepresented including hilly areas as long as it formed part of UP which was prime reason for partition of undivided UP 25 years ago, West UP, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand? Why the hell Supreme Court has tolerated most absurdly for so long and is still tolerating such most worst form of dastardly, divisive and double standard absurd discrimination perpetrated against different regions of same State like in UP or between different States and so also in allocating Statehood to different States? Over and above all, how can Centre and top court most mercilessly and most groundlessly keep favouring baseless, blatant and bru

By any reckoning, every person with even a minimal of knowledge on Constitution knows fully well that Supreme Court is duty bound to act and speak up for litigants of 30 districts of West UP with more than 10 crores people and so also of lawless Bihar which has not even a single High Court Circuit Bench and in stark contrast, smaller States like Karnataka have multiple High Court Benches without any prima facie reason at Dharwad and Gulbarga for just few districts yet never seen any suo motu cognizance being taken by Supreme Court even though it directly pertains to judiciary itself which definitely makes for most depressing reading! It is a no-brainer that the merciless, unjustified and absurd discrimination perpetrated in distribution of High Courts and High Court Benches and High Court Circuit Benches in different states and different regions cannot be ever justified under any circumstances! It is an unfortunate remnant of deeply entrenched bias not set right even after near

Leave alone creating two High Court Benches in Uttar Pradesh as in Karnataka in 2008 first as High Court Circuit Benches and then in 2013 as permanent High Court Benches for just four and eight districts only at Gulbarga and Dharwad respectively, Centre for 30 districts has most appallingly kicked out the most strongest recommendation that had been made by Justice Jaswant Singh Commission headed by a former Supreme Court Judge appointed by Centre itself for creation of High Court Bench in West UP at Agra in mid 1980s while having just no compunction to create High Court Bench in Aurangabad in Maharashtra for just 9 districts which already had multiple High Court Benches in Nagpur for just 10 districts and at Panaji for just 2 districts! As if this was not enough, we see most recently fifth High Court Bench in Maharashtra at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra has started functioning from 18.08.2025 for just 6 districts with shockingly only just 1.64 crore people! What is happenin

In 2014, we saw how Telangana with just 3.5 crore people given separate Statehood itself on June 2, 2014 and so also separate High Court at Hyderabad and separate capital and Andhra Pradesh with population of just 4 crores also given separate High Court at Amaravati after partition in 2014 and a High Court Bench also approved by State Assembly at Kurnool and another at Visakhapatnam is under active consideration! As the curtains on 2025 are about to fall, we see that not even a single High Court Circuit Bench created for 30 districts of West UP with more than 10 crore people and we see no end of dark tunnel yet while for just 6 districts in Maharashtra, fifth High Court Bench started functioning from Kolhapur on August 18, 2025! The most serious question that has bubbled up to the fore is: Why has Centre so unscrupulously denied West UP with more than 10 crore people even a single High Court Circuit Bench which deserves separate High Court as recommended by Dr BR Ambedkar

In any case, it has now definitely warmed the innermost cockles of my heart and mind to read that none other than one of the most eminent former Supreme Court Judge Hon’ble Mr Justice Markandey Katju who has himself practiced in Allahabad High Court from 1970 to 1991 with specialization in Taxation, Labour Laws and Writ Petition and is one of the most distinguished jurists that India has ever produced known all across the globe and was also appointed Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court in August 2004 and so also was Chief Justice of Madras High Court in November 2004 and also of Delhi High Court in October 2005 has in a eye-opener blog titled: “The Demand For A Western Bench Of Allahabad HC Is Justified” published on September 24, 2025 in website named “Medium” written that, “While I do not approve of blocking roads, I believe that the demand for a bench of the Allahabad High Court in western Uttar Pradesh is fully justified. The reason is simple: litigants of western UP

In conclusion, Centre must definitely pay heed to what Mr Laxmi Kant Vajpayee who is also former BJP President of UP State unit with many decades of rich experience as MP and in other capacities as well has pointed out in Parliament just recently while demanding two High Court Benches in West UP at Meerut and Agra and overall four in UP with two others at Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Why Centre finds itself in a predicament in an “open and shut” case? Depriving West UP from having not just multiple High Court Benches as Vajpayee had demanded even earlier but even a single High Court Bench is bereft of any logic and is nothing but absurdity of the highest order which must be discarded at the earliest! It merits just no reiteration that the age old demand for a High Court Bench in West UP is fully justified and is long overdue which definitely must be created at the earliest as it brooks no more delay any longer now! No denying or disputing it!

Much water has flown down the bridge since India became independent in 1947 but the most stark truth is that even nearly 80 years later in December 2025, we see that West UP is without a High Court Bench which is definitely most deplorable, most dangerous, most self destructive and most discriminatory that even Supreme Court has dared not to ever intervene even when UP was undivided! Why Supreme Court has so quietly tolerated such dastardly discrimination in distribution of High Court Benches in different States and in different regions? If this is not the biggest tight slap on Constitution and Dr BR Ambedkar, then what else is? Dr BR Ambedkar had recommended separate Statehood itself for West UP! I just don’t buy any rubbish argument forwarded by Centre to deny West UP even a single High Court Bench even when UP was undivided and Centre knows fully well that the High Courts and Benches of eight States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh amon

It must be asked: Why this High Court Bench issue in West UP has most mysteriously remained in limbo for so long? Why can’t Centre bury the hatchet and move forward to balance the regional imbalance of Eastern UP having both High Court at Allahabad and a single Bench at Lucknow so close to each other and West UP inspite of owing for majority of pending cases of UP for whom Justice Jaswant Singh Commission recommended permanent seat of High Court Bench yet even after nearly 50 years not even a Bench created nor even a Circuit Bench created! What I find most deeply unsettling is that even now we see that neither the Supreme Court nor Centre is ready to open its eyes and take most concrete action to dismember the most historical, Himalayan blunder committed about 80 years ago! Denying West UP and Bihar even a single High Court Bench is not just illogical but also deeply insensitive, deeply flawed and most deeply discriminatory also that has gone unnoticed, unchecked and unaddressed for so long