CM urges Centre to set up HC benches in western, southern Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today wrote to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and reiterated demand for establishment of permanent benches of the Orissa High Court in Western and Southern part of the State.

In his letter, Patnaik requested the Centre to take an early decision regarding establishment of the HC benches in the western and southern Odisha to fulfill the aspiration of people of these regions.

“There is overwhelming public demand for establishment of permanent HC benches in both Western and Southern Odisha and the people of these areas are persistently agitating for the same. The agitations have affected the functioning of courts and other government offices in the regions," wrote Patnaik.

Assuring that the State government will provide all requisite resources for establishment of the HC benches, Patnaik said the Government of India has authority to decide about the creation of separate benches of the HC other than the principal seat.

"The State government is aware of various decisions of the Supreme Court as well as the recommendation of the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission for establishment of the HC bench away from its principal seat. All requisite resources for establishment of High Court benches in these regions will be provided by the State government," Patnaik added.

It is pertinent to mention here that several bar associations in western Odisha have been demanding establishment of the HC bench since long.