OD-BENCH-LETTER

Chief Minister Naveen

Patnaik Friday urged the Centre to take early decision

regarding establishment of permanent benches of Orissa High

Court in western and southern parts of the state to fulfil the

aspiration of of the people.

"I would request you that an early decision regarding

establishment of permanent benches of High Court in Western

and Southern Odisha be taken by the Government of India to

fulfil the aspiration of these regions," Patnaik wrote to

Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Patnaik in the letter mentioned that 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 agitation have often affected the functioning of

court and other government offices in these regions," he said.

Patnaik mentioned that 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.

Patnaik said the state government will provide all

support for the purpose. "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," Patnaik said.

The chief minister also reminded the Union Minister

regarding his earlier letter in this regard in 2013, 2014 and

2018. "There is more than adequate justification for

establishment of permanent high court benches in these

regions," Pataik said.