: The dharna by Belagavi advocates entered seventh day today demanding setting up of Karnataka Administrative Tribunal here.
Home minister K J George who met Belagavi Bar Association members here today expressed his helplessness to promise to set up KAT in Belagavi.
However, he said, he would convey the feelings of advocates and expressed confidence that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will take appropriate step. In the meantime, he requested the striking advocates to withdraw their agitation.
Speaking at the gathering, senior advocate M B Zirali demanded that the state government recommend Belagavi to the Centre for setting up KAT and other courts and tribunals. It is not mandatory that KAT should be established at the High Court premises only, he said.
In case Dharwad is recommended for KAT establishment by the state government, then he urged the state government to withdraw the proposal and re-recommend Belagavi as the location for KAT. He reminded the government that north Karnataka does not end at Hubballi and Dharwad.
Zirali said if no concrete action comes up from the state government then the advocates of Belagaavi district would stage an agitation in-front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on December 10 and 11 when the assembly winter session will be in progress here.
Suresh Angadi MP, Belagavi, and Firoz Sait, Belagavi north MLA, expressed their full support to the advocates.
