Bhubaneswar, (Reporters Pen): Sept 3: Following a contentious statement about the need for a High Court bench, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi clarified on Tuesday that the issue is under review. He emphasized the BJP government’s commitment to providing swift justice to the people of Odisha.
The controversy erupted after BJD MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo raised the matter in the state Assembly, pressing the government for a firm timeline on establishing a High Court bench in Balangir. Singh Deo urged the Chief Minister to offer a concrete assurance regarding the setup of either a circuit or permanent bench and specify a timeframe for its establishment.
On Monday, CM Majhi had stated that there was no justification for setting up a new High Court bench elsewhere in the state, referencing a Supreme Court observation that suggested the demand for a circuit bench had become outdated due to advances in technology. He also urged lawyers in Sambalpur to end their violent protests.
Singh Deo countered that the Supreme Court’s comments were related to a lawyers’ strike and did not address the need for a new High Court bench. He argued that technology cannot replace the need for a physical bench and highlighted that Balangir had a High Court bench before Independence, giving it a historical claim.
