Orissa High Court Judge Vacancy Issue Taken Up Before Centre: Naveen

CUTTACK:  Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said the state government has taken up the issue of filling up of vacant judges positions in the Orissa High Court with the union government.

“The government has rendered all assistance and financial support for the infrastructural development of the courts in the state. We have established 30 first class judicial magistrate courts for ensuring speedy trial of offences against women in the state,” said the chief minister addressing the centenary celebrations of the first sitting of the Circuit Court of Patna High Court, the precursor of the Orissa High Court.

Chief Justice of India Justice TS Thakur, Supreme Court judge Justice Dipak Mishra, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice Vineet Saran and other dignitaries attended the event.

The chief minister said another 26 first class additional courts of the judicial magistrate had been set up in remote and topographically challenging areas of the state.

“Odisha has established rural courts to cater to the rural population. A modern court complex of the Orissa High Court has been constructed, and an impressive Odisha Judicial Academy has been set up for the capacity building of Judicial Officers,” said Patnaik.

He said hundred years back, in May 1916, when the Circuit Court of Patna High Court for Odisha held its first sitting at Cuttack, history was made.

“Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das was there to express a hope that this would lead to the establishment of a separate High Court for Odisha one day. As you all know, Madhu Babu was then spearheading the movement for the formation of a separate province of Odisha. And we all are happy that all his dreams were fulfilled,” informed the Chief Minister.