Thegovernment’s proposal to establish a new High Court Bench in Mangaluru has triggered strong opposition from legal communities in Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts, leading to a three-way tussle over the location of the proposed judicial institution. At present, Karnataka has High Court Benches in Kalaburagi and Dharwad. To improve access to justice for people in the coastal and Malnad regions, the state government has expressed its willingness to establish another bench in Mangaluru. However, the proposal has not gone down well with lawyers and civic groups in other districts, who argue that alternative locations would better serve a larger population. The Uttara Kannada Bar Association has strongly objected to the move, stating that the geographically vast district faces unique challenges in transportation and connectivity. Lawyers argue that people from many parts of Uttara Kannada already depend on neighbouring districts for education, healthcare and employment, making judicial accessibility a major concern. According to advocates, Uttara Kannada has 11 Bar Associations compared to four in Udupi and six in Mangaluru. They also claim that a significant number of cases pending before the High Court originate from Uttara Kannada. Therefore, they contend that establishing the bench in Honnavar would be more beneficial not only to Uttara Kannada but also to litigants from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga districts. The demand has gained momentum after reports emerged that the state government had written to Chief Justice Vibhubakru of the Karnataka High Court expressing readiness to provide infrastructure for a bench in Mangaluru. Officials have reportedly conducted site inspections and reviewed available facilities in the coastal city. Meanwhile, the Shivamogga District Advocates Association has also opposed the Mangaluru proposal and demanded that the bench be established in Shivamogga instead. Lawyers there argue that Shivamogga is centrally located and would offer easier access to litigants from Malnad districts. With legal communities from three districts staking claim to the proposed bench, the issue has evolved into a major regional debate. Advocates in Uttara Kannada have even warned of a large-scale agitation if the district is brought under a Mangaluru Bench without considering their concerns. The final decision now rests with the government and the judiciary, both of which will have to balance regional aspirations with administrative practicality.