No consensus on HC bench location in Western Odisha

Bhubaneswar:  The issue of High Court bench in Western Odisha was taken up for discussion in the Assembly today with leader of the Opposition Narsingha Mishra throwing weight behind setting up the bench at Bolangir, while others lobbying for other districts.

Mishra also questioned the announcement of Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on setting up of the permanent bench of Odisha High Court at Sambalpur and demanded for immediate withdrawal of the latter’s statement.

However, MLAs of Congress as well as BJP and BJD have expressed different views on the suitable place for setting up the High Court bench in Western Odisha. Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati said that the bench should be set up at Jeypore in Koraput district while BJD’s Dibyashankar Mishra said it would be better if the bench is established at Bhawanipatna.

“As Koraput is a scheduled area and the High Court bench should be set up at Jeypore as lawyers have been observing strike on Saturdays every month for the last three years,” said Bahinipati.

BJD MLA Rajeswari Panigrahy said that the High Court’s permanent bench should be set up at Sambalpur in Western Odisha. Central Commission will take a final call whether the bench will come up at Sambalpur or any other place.”

“As Sambalpur has all kinds of facilities including airport and infrastructure including engineering and medical colleges, the High Court bench should come up here, “said BJP MLA Rabi Nayak.