23/07/2025
Today, I met with the Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice Sh. Arjun Ram Meghwal ji to discuss critical issues concerning the judicial infrastructure and access to justice in our Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, Terai, Dooars and North Bengal region.
I requested the Hon'ble Minister for the establishment of a Permanent Bench of the Calcutta High Court in the Darjeeling-Siliguri-Jalpaiguri region, along with the setup of various tax tribunals. This would significantly reduce the travel burden for nearly three crore residents of North Bengal and ensure better access to justice.
Our North Bengal region currently faces over 15,000 pending cases annually. A Permanent Bench of the High Court in our region would help improve judicial efficiency and ensure timely resolution of disputes.
Further, I have requested urgent attention to the development of court infrastructure in the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. The existing court buildings in these areas have not seen major repairs or upgrades for decades. As a result, they are congested and are operating with outdated facilities. Modern and functional court infrastructure is essential to ensure fair trials and reduce delays in justice delivery.
Additionally, I reiterated the pressing need for the development of Siliguri Court Campus with urgency. With the rapid population growth in Siliguri, the current court infrastructure has become inadequate, causing significant delays in the justice system. I have been pursuing this issue since 2022, however non-cooperation of the State Government is causing unnecessary delay to this much needed development work. I have requested the Hon'ble Minister for his intervention.
Furthermore, I also requested for the setting up of fast-track courts and judicial resolution panels to handle pending and future disputes related to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the region. This initiative would support over 10,000 MSMEs in North Bengal and help in faster resolution of commercial disputes, many of which risk closure due to prolonged litigation.
I strongly believe that these measures will significantly benefit the people of our Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, Terai, Dooars and North Bengal region. With a population of around 3 crores dependent on the existing judicial system, strengthening infrastructure and introducing fast-track mechanisms are essential steps toward ensuring timely and equitable justice.
Raju Bista
Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and
National Spokesperson, BJP