Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday reiterated his demand for setting up a Supreme Court Bench in Chennai.Speaking after laying the the foundation stone for a combined courtbuilding to be constructed in the city, he urged Supreme Court Judgeand former Chief Justice of Madras High Court Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who was also present, to take steps to establish a Supreme Court Bench in Chennai for the benefit of the people of the southern states.

He also renewed the demand to make Tamil as the official language in the High Court and to appoint judges of all communities for better representation and ensure social justice. Stalin said he hoped that Justice Kaul will favourably consider these demands.

He said the combined court building will be constructed as high-rise twin towers at a cost of Rs 315 crore. In the first phase, 65 court halls will be constructed and in the second phase 85 court halls with connecting corridors would be constructed.

He said the announcement for allotting 4.24 acres of land to construct the nine-storeyed combined court building was made by him at a function held at he Madras High Court complex on April 23. Earlier, Kaul unveiled the plaque marking the commencement of renovation of the building in which Dr Ambedkar Law college
functioned. The renovation works will be carried at the cost of Rs 23 crorein which the classrooms will be converted into court rooms and will be integrated with the Madras High Court.