Sambalpur: Demand for High Court Bench in Western Odisha Rises Again; Former MP Bhawani Hota Raises Questions
Sambalpur: The need for a fourth permanent bench in Maharashtra has prompted commentary from Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai of the Supreme Court. In light of this, former MP Bhawani Hota questioned why a permanent High Court bench could not be established in Western Odisha. Due to the absence of a permanent bench, unresolved cases in the High Court have now reached a staggering 1,43,962 as of November 5.
At a press conference held in Sambalpur, Mr. Hota emphasized that establishing a High Court bench in Odisha and selecting a location for it is not a complex issue. He attributed the delay to a lack of political will, pointing out that people have been fighting for this cause for over 40 years. In Western Odisha, including Sambalpur, this has turned into a public movement. Advocates, social organizations, and intellectuals have joined this campaign.
Government Correspondence and Lack of Action
In 2013, both the central and state governments had written to the Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, seeking an opinion on this matter. However, 11 years later, there has been complete silence from the High Court. For over a decade, the central and state governments have merely exchanged letters about this issue, without taking any action.
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Mr. Hota highlighted that authorities see virtual hearings as a reason not to establish a permanent bench, despite the large number of unresolved cases. However, he argued this is not acceptable. He questioned why Odisha could not have additional benches when Maharashtra has three, Goa has three, and Karnataka has multiple benches, including one in Bengaluru.
Call for Action Based on Yashwant Singh Commission Guidelines
Mr. Hota demanded that authorities should take a decision to determine a location for the bench based on the Yashwant Singh Commission guidelines. He expressed hope that all political parties would come to an agreement and make a decisive move soon.
Plans for an Advocate Academy and Research Center in Sambalpur
Additionally, Mr. Hota announced plans to establish an Advocate Academy and Research Center in Sambalpur, mentioning that the city has the necessary infrastructure for this. Key figures like Gyanendra Behera and Kishore Hota also attended the press conference.
