Odisha Chief Minister Lays Foundation Stone Of High Court’s Centre For Judicial Archives

Justice Saran expressed satisfaction over both the projects and said that residential complex for the employees was his dream during his stint as the Chief Justice of the High Court. He appreciated Justice Muralidhar for making it happen and also for conceiving the idea of Judicial Archives.

Justice Saran said that the initiatives undertaken by the High Court under the leadership of Chief Justice Muralidhar have been applauded by CJI Dr. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. He said Odisha has now become the front runner in the fields of digitization and virtual court hearings. Referring to his experience as the Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice Saran appreciated the support of the State Government to the projects of the High Court.

Justice Muralidhar shared the experience about his visit to the Record Rooms of District Courts in 2021 and explained how a judicial record of the year 1814 was found in the District of Ganjam, which made him to think of preservation and digitization of old records and making those available to researchers for tracing out the evolution of the judicial system.

He lauded the support of the State Government and the Chief Minister for the project. He said the Centre for Judicial Archives, the exclusive complex for employees and Judicial Infrastructure Management Agency (JIMA) are the first ever initiatives of their kind undertaken by Odisha.

Chief Minister Patnaik said the idea of Judicial Archives is a unique initiative of the High Court and the first of its kind in the country. He said an archive is not only the collection of the documentary heritage of the nation but also the collective memory of the institution and passive witness to history.

He commended the initiative and said the project will be beneficial as history is not just a document but a learning curve and guiding light for the future. He said the High Court has done a commendable job in preserving the Judicial History by embarking upon this initiative, as the old records are a treasure-trove in our judicial and legal arena.

Patnaik also said that it would be immensely beneficial to the historians and legal luminaries for meaningful reconstruction of history. The access to research scholars and the public would stimulate academic activities through symposiums and seminars, he said.

He also underlined the need for publication of academic journals and sharing of archival records with other academic and archival institutions of the State and across the country for enhancing the awareness on judicial heritage.

The High Court has been a front-runner in terms of digitization of Courts and Court records. The Record Room Digitization Centre (RRDC) has set a benchmark for digitization and preservation of judicial records, which has been praised by multiple jurists since its inception in 2021.

Click Here To Read/Download Booklet