Jalpaiguri, May 16: V.S.Shirpurkar, the chief justice of Calcutta High Court, who is here to assess the infrastructure for setting up the circuit bench, has proposed an alternative site for the permanent bench.

According to the district magistrate, A. Subbiah, the visiting chief justice had suggested that though the site for the temporary bench at Assam More would serve the purpose, it would be better to have the permanent bench at the same place. He asked the district administration to explore the possibility of acquiring more land within the premises of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority complex, where construction of the judges? residence is going on.

?They are satisfied with the arrangements for the temporary bench, but they want to set the ball rolling for the permanent bench before inaugurating the temporary bench,? Subbiah said, adding that efforts were being made to acquire the land within two months.

The district magistrate and the state judicial secretary are scheduled to meet the judge on May 21 in Calcutta to discuss the detailed plan of interiors, sources said.