Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

MLAs support for Orissa high court bench in Western Orissa

December 8, 2010 at 3:42 pm sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Following is a report from expressbuzz.com:

BHUBANESWAR: Members cutting across party lines are unanimous on the establishment of a bench of the Orissa High Court in Western Orissa but opinion is divided on its location. While the treasury benches blamed Centre for the delay in opening an HC bench, the opposition Congress accused the State Government of lack of sincerity.

Senior Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja raised the issue in the afternoon session through a point of order. He alleged that the inordinate delay in establishing a HC bench in western Orissa is a glaring example of the step-motherly treatment to the region by the people of coastal belt.

 Justifying the demand for a High Court bench in Western Orissa, Saluja  said people were facing a lot of difficulties for attending court cases. They  have to travel a long distance of over 500 km to attend the High Court and many poor people do not have the financial capacity to meet the travelling and lodge expenses.

 He said the Jaswant Singh Commission had recommended for a bench of the Orissa High Court and Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily during his recent visit to the State had given a favourable opinion. The Orissa High Court has also written to the State Government several times seeking its opinion on the matter. But the Government is yet to take the initiative. He urged the Government to recommend the matter to the Centre.

BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo accused the Government  of playing politics on the issue. The Government should immediately make  an announcement on the establishment of the HC bench if it is really  concerned for the people of Western Orissa, he added.

 Blaming the Centre for the delay, Niranjan Pujari, BJD, said though the Union Law Minister favoured the demand for a separate bench, this required the approval of Parliament. However, the Centre has done  nothing on the matter. He, however, wanted  the proposed HC bench at Sonepur.  Former Minister Padmanabha Behera supported Pujari saying Sonepur is centrally located.

 Naba Kishore Das, Congress, demanded that the High Court bench be located at Jharsuguda. His party colleagues Gobardhan Das and Anup Sai, however, wanted the benches at Bhawanipatna and Brajrajnagar. Congress MLA Surendra Singh Bhoi said any location would be acceptable.  Government Chief Whip Rabi Narayan Pani flayed the differences among the members before a decision is taken on the proposed High Court bench.

Entry filed under: Athmallik, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Judicial and Legal Service, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Permanent bench of the High Court, Region watch, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Sundergarh.