Odisha Govt Yet To Reply On Location Of High Court Benches, Says Union Law Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Centre has clarified that it is yet to get any response from Odisha government regarding location of the High Court benches in western and southern regions of the state.

In a reply to the letter of Bargarh MLA Suresh Pujari regarding establishment of permanent bench of Orissa High Court in western Odisha, Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju stated that the High Court benches are established at a place other than its permanent seat in accordance with recommendations of the Jaswant Singh Commission and judgment of the Supreme Court.

The permanent benches are established after consideration of a complete proposal by the state government incorporating the readiness to provide infrastructure and meet the expenditure along with the consent of the Chief Justice of the High Court and the Governor.

“The Odisha government has requested for setting up of Orissa High Court bench in western and southern region of the state. The Central government has requested the state government to work out details of proposed benches including the location inconsultation with the High Court of Odisha. However, no response has been received yet,” Rijiju said in the reply to Pujari.

The Union Law Minister further said, “At present, no complete proposal regarding setting up of benches of Orissa High Court is pending with the government.”