Bhubaneswar: Law, Works, and Excise Minister Shri Prithviraj Harichandnan stressed the growing importance of structured Law Administration and efficient litigation management during a performance review meeting of Assistant Directors (Law) held at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhawan.
A high-level performance review meeting of Assistant Directors (Law) emphasized the critical role of law administration in improving state governance and expediting legal dispute resolutions, said Dr.Pabitra Mohan Samal, Principal Secretary, Department of Law.
Addressing the legal officers, Minister Shri Harichandnan highlighted the Law Department’s foundational role in drafting legislation, modifying outdated statutes, and providing essential legal assistance across all government sectors.
He noted that Assistant Directors (Law) must serve as vital links between the Law Department and their respective administrative units, particularly in accelerating dispute resolutions and implementing mediation mechanisms.
To institutionalize these efforts, he announced that the government is actively planning cadre restructuring, new recruitments, the formulation of a comprehensive litigation management policy, and the issuance of dedicated Standard Operating Procedures.
Dr. Pabitra Mohan Samal, Principal Secretary, Department of Law, led the operational directives for the administrative officers during this session.
Dr. Samal provided essential guidance to the legal professionals, framing actionable strategies to streamline the heavy caseload across various state departments.
His focus remained on elevating the core competencies of the legal cadre, ensuring that officers provide precise legal counsel and remain responsive to evolving statutory requirements. Under his administrative oversight, the department is emphasizing rigorous documentation and proactive case tracking to eliminate systemic delays in state litigation.
The review session also featured the official release of the Annual Achievement Report booklet for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which documents the administrative milestones achieved by the department. The meeting concluded with additional administrative inputs from Special Secretary Pranab Kumar Patra and Additional Secretary Shiba Prasad Mohapatra, who supported the departmental push toward greater structural efficiency.