Naveen Seeks Centre’s Early Decision On High Court Benches

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested the Centre for an early decision about setting up of permanent benches of Odisha High Court in western and southern parts of the State keeping in mind the “unrelenting” agitation by the people in these regions.

In a letter to Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Naveen said there is an overwhelming public demand for establishment of permanent benches of the High Court in western and southern Odisha as people are “persistently” agitating for the same.

“The agitations have often affected the functioning of Court and other government offices in these regions,” he said.

While the state government is aware of various decisions of the Supreme Court as well as the recommendations of the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission for establishment of the Bench of a High Court away from its principal seat, it is also a fact that the Centre has the authority to decide about creation of separate benches of High Court other than the principal seat.

Reminding the Law Minister of his earlier letters in 2013, 2014 and 2018, the CM said there is more than “adequate justification” for establishment of permanent High Court Benches in these regions.

“I would like to reaffirm the commitment of the state government that we will provide all requisite resources for establishment of High Court Benches in these areas,” Naveen added.