As a boon to litigants, the Court to hear Motor Vehicle Accident and Compensation cases along with Family Court cases

Ponnampet:  The Karnataka High Court has given its consent to start the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court (Senior Division) in Ponnampet as the town will be upgraded as taluk centre as announced recently by the Karnataka Government.

The Senior Division court will operate from the Second Floor of the Court Complex in Ponnampet. The Court is set to be inaugurated on May 30 and the necessary furniture is being provided at the new Court.

People of four hoblis can avail the facility of the Court. Till now, people from Ponnampet, Balele, Hudikeri and Srimangala used to attend Virajpet Court for their legal necessities. In future, they can approach the Ponnampet court.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Advocate and Notary at Ponnampet M.T. Kariappa, who is also the former Secretary, Ponnampet Bar Association, said that at present, Ponnampet houses JMFC Junior Court at its premises near Junior College Grounds Ponnampet. “As it was a Junior Court, for all appeals we had to go to Senior Court at Virajpet and people from far-flung areas beyond Srimangala, Kutta and Balele use to find it very difficult to travel and attend cases,” he said.

Based on the High Court directive, the Senior Civil Judge from Virajpet will hear cases at Ponnampet Court every working Friday and Saturday with effect from May 27, 2019. The present Junior Court can hear cases only up to Rs.5 lakh and henceforth the Senior Judge can hear cases that fall above Rs.5 lakh bracket, Kariappa said.  

As a boon to litigants, the Senior Court will hear Motor Vehicle Accident and Compensation cases too along with Family Court cases. The Motor Vehicle Accidents Compensation Tribunal was located in Virajpet and Madikeri and henceforth, Ponnampet will have that facility and this will greatly help litigants. “The Senior Court will have jurisdiction of Moorkal, Balele, Srimangala, Kutta, Badagarakeri and Birunani, Pookala and surrounding areas, Gonikoppal till Hathur and B. Shettigeri, Thithimathi and surrounding areas. As Ponnampet will be a Taluk Centre, we have demanded a sub-jail in Ponnampet as the present sub-jail in Virajpet is dilapidated and prisoners are sent to Madikeri Jail. There are more than 1,000 cases in Ponnampet Court,” he added.