State may recommend HC bench in Western Odisha this week

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Sep 24, 2013 at 6:28 PM Updated On : Sep 24, 2013 at 7:10 PM

OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 24:

Concerned over growing public outcry against the inaction of the state government in setting up of a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha and apprehensive of loss of popularity in the region, the ruling BJD government has decided to take an early decision in this regard. The recommendation could come as early as this week.

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The issue was discussed at a high level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the presence of law minister Maheswar Mohanty, Finance minister Prasanna Acharya, Urban Development minister Debi Prasad Mishra, chief secretary JK Mohapatra and other senior officials at the State Secretariat here on Monday evening.

Since the Western Odisha Central Action Committee (CAC) had not demanded for a High Court bench in any particular city, the state government’s recommendation to the Centre would steer clear of mentioning any city, it was decided at the meeting.

The Law department has also made its stand clear on this issue.

Prior to the meeting, the Finance minister, in a press briefing, had made it clear that the state government would not wait for the report of the CR Pal Commission of Inquiry expected towards October-end.

“The state government would take appropriate steps on the issue of permanent High Court bench in western Odisha soon within the ambit of the Constitutional provisions”, he had said after a meeting with the Chief Minister at Naveen Nivas.

According to sources, the Chief Minister is all set to write to the Centre on the issue after the completion of the ULB poll process with the election of chairperons on September 30.

Earlier in the day, a 40-member delegation of the CAC of undivided Koraput District Bar Association, led by its chairman Prahallad Dora and vice chairman Jayadev Parida, met the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat.

The delegation handed over a copy of the report of the Law Commission of India in August this year along with the report of the Yaswant Singh Committee and the reply of the High Court to the Committee to the Chief Minister and demanded a permanent High Court bench in the district.

In his reply, the Chief Minister assured the delegation that the government would look into its demand.