Bhubaneswar: Orissa High Court Chief Justice S. Muralidhar today inaugurated 13 new courts in the cadre of Senior Civil Judge across the state through hybrid mode.

The new courts have come up at Puri, Kantamal in Boudh, Purusottampur in Ganjam, Jaipatna in Kalahandi, G.Udayagiri in Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Balasore and Bargarh.

Other judges of Orissa High Court and Administrative judges of the aforesaid judgeships were present on the occasion.

Among others, the District & Sessions Judges and other judicial officers of aforesaid judgeships and members of Bar Association of aforesaid locations participated in the event through virtual mode.

The Chief Justice thanked the state government for extending all possible support for the setting up of 13 new courts in Odisha.

“This is one of the biggest expansion projects of Orissa High Court. The new courts are fully equipped to take up the challenges,” he said.

The Chief Justice hailed the role of technology in the transformation of the judiciary in Odisha during the pandemic and post pandemic period. He congratulated the judges of the High Court for their constant effort in the transformation of the lower courts in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Biswanath Rath said the new courts will be instrumental in speedy disposal of cases.

Justice Debabrata Dash urged the young advocates to upgrade their technological skills. Justice BR Sarangi said presiding officers of districts and other lower courts must toil hard to serve the society with speedy disposal of cases.

Justice S. Talapatra said access to justice is the symbol of proper functioning of a dynamic democracy. Infrastructure development is one of the aspects to access justice, he added.