The Supreme Court today referred to the constitution bench a plea seeking setting up of National Court of Appeal with regional benches in major cities for deciding cases arising from high courts. A bench, headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, passed the verdict on a PIL pressing for setting up of a National Court of Appeal at Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata and quashing of the government order rejecting the proposal on the issue.<br/><br/>The Centre had opposed the plea on several grounds, including that the litigants cannot be deprived of the right to approach the apex court.<br/><br/>In February 2014, the petitioner had moved the apex court which had disposed of the matter directing the Centre to respond to his suggestion within six months. The Centre had rejected his suggestion on the ground that it would require an amendment in Article 130 of the Constitution which is impermissible as this would change the constitution of the Supreme Court completely.<br/><br/>The petitioner has now again approached the apex court seeking quashing of this decision of the central government.