Judicial proceedings at the High Court level are set to take place in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands later this month, with Circuit Court sittings of the Calcutta High Court scheduled to be held in Sri Vijaya Puram for a little over two weeks.
As per an official release, judges of the Calcutta High Court will sit and hear cases in Sri Vijaya Puram from December 8 to December 22, both days inclusive. The circuit sittings are expected to address matters originating from the Union Territory, providing litigants and legal practitioners an opportunity to have cases heard locally without the need to travel to the mainland.
Circuit Courts are periodically held in the islands as part of efforts to improve access to justice, reduce pendency, and bring higher judicial forums closer to citizens. Such sittings are particularly significant given the geographic isolation of the islands, which often poses logistical and financial challenges for litigants seeking to pursue cases before the parent High Court.
During the circuit period, matters listed before the court are expected to include a mix of civil, criminal and service-related cases arising from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Lawyers practising in the territory typically prepare and coordinate well in advance to ensure that briefs are ready and procedural requirements are met during the limited sitting days.
Officials familiar with the process said that circuit sittings help expedite cases that might otherwise face delays due to repeated adjournments linked to travel constraints. They also allow the High Court to directly assess region-specific administrative and legal issues affecting the islands.
The arrangement requires coordination between the judiciary, local administration and court staff to ensure smooth functioning, including court infrastructure, security and scheduling. Past circuit sittings have seen heavy engagement from the local bar, reflecting the demand for timely judicial resolution.
For litigants, the presence of High Court judges in Sri Vijaya Puram often translates into reduced costs, quicker hearings, and improved accessibility. It also provides an opportunity for younger members of the bar in the islands to observe and engage with High Court-level proceedings more closely.
The circuit sitting scheduled this December comes at a time when efforts are underway to strengthen institutional delivery in remote regions, ensuring that remoteness does not become a barrier to justice. Legal stakeholders in the islands are expected to make full use of the extended sitting period to move pending cases forward.
