Western Odisha HC bench heat reaches Assembly

Bhubaneswar:  The proceedings of Odisha Assembly were disrupted today following ruckus created by Congress members over lawyers’ agitation demanding establishment of a permanent High Court bench in Western Odisha.

Alleging that the common man is being affected due to non-functioning of courts, the Congress demanded a reply from the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the House.

Congress legislature party leader, Narasingha Mishra stated that Yashwant Commission clearly voiced for establishment of High Court bench in Bolangir. "The report should have been tabled in the House within six months. Almost, six years have passed now, where is the report,” questioned Congress members seeking Speaker’s ruling and a reply from the CM.

“Since long locals as well as lawyers are continuing their agitation for a High Court Bench in Bolangir, but the State government is not able to take a decision for which the Centre is not able to move ahead. We have demanded that based on the Yashwant Singh Commission report, the High Court bench should be set up in Bolangir,” said Mishra.

Mishra further stated that it has been 6 years since Justice CR Pal Commission submitted a report on HC bench in Odisha, but it is yet to be tabled in the House.

Meanwhile, BJP members criticised Congress members’ behaviour in the House and threatened to boycott the Assembly if the Speaker fails to run the proceedings in the House.