Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and Bolangir Lawmaker, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo today asked about the proposal to set up a bench of Orissa High Court in Bolangir and steps taken by the State Government in this regard.
In his one line written reply to the State Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that such a facility is not justified according to a Supreme Court verdict.
“As per a Supreme Court verdict, there is no justification for having a bench of Orissa High Court in any part of the State,” the Chief Minister said.
Speaking to media persons outside the Assembly, Shri Singh Deo defended his demand for a circuit bench in Bolangir, saying, “Prior to Independence, there was a high court bench in Bolangir. According to the accession treaty, it is binding on both the State and Central Governments to provide the same facility. There would be no issue in having a high court bench if the government was willing.”
The senior BJD Lawmaker accused the BJP government of betraying the people of western Odisha, citing the CM’s rejection of the demand in the Assembly.
Senior BJP Lawmaker from Sambalpur, Jaynarayan Mishra, too supported the demand for having a HC bench in the western region.
“We (BJP) have not withdrawn the demand for a HC bench in western Odisha. The CM has referred to the Supreme Court judgment, but the State’s population and HC cases are increasing,” he advocated.
Why can’t Odisha have a HC bench when Uttar Pradesh has three, and other States also have them?, asked the senior BJP leader.
Congress legislator C S Raazen Ekka from Sundargarh district also highlighted the long-standing demand for a High Court bench in western Odisha, blaming both the BJD and the BJP for failing to establish one.
“When the previous BJD government had failed to establish a bench for 25 years, the current CM who was then in the Opposition had taken up the cudgels for it. Despite being a tribal, he has failed to understand the problems faced by the poor and the people of his community who are now forced to depend on Cuttack,” he said.
Ashok Das, Convener of the ‘Kendriya Kriyanusthan Committee’ (Central Coordination Committee), criticized the CM’s understanding of the Supreme Court ruling.
“It seems that the CM has not thoroughly reviewed the Supreme Court’s ruling. The apex court has never ruled out the justification for a High Court bench in Western Odisha,” Shri Das said.