The government has already sanctioned 2.5 crore rupees for acquiring 75 acres land for the purpose. Though the High Court, in principle, accepted the setting up of the Bench, it rejected the government's suggestion to set up the Bench temporarily at the existing sessions court complex in Madurai.

Moreover, the High Court had laid strictures that unless the basic facilities like permanent court buildings, houses for judges, appointment of staff and quarters for them are readied, the Bench could not be set up there. The government is likely to approach the High Court again for reviewing its decision on setting up the Bench temporarily at the sessions court complex.

Talking to mediapersons at the secretariat, the minister denied central law minister M Thambi Durai's charge that thestate government was delaying in forwarding letter to the union government on the setting up of the Bench. Aruna said that the state government could not send any proposal to the centre on the issue as the matter was pending before the High Court.

Also, the Tamil Nadu government could not approach the centre in the absence of an estimation report from the High Court on the required infrastructural facilities at the proposed site at Ulaganeri.

The proposal, which had been put in the cold storage since 1984, was revived by the DMK government in 1996. Aruna said the state government has been repeatedly requesting the High Court to expedite the matter. "Once the court gives its report, the government will approach the centre, without any delay," he said.