No Complete Proposal From State Govt To Setup New Bench Of Orissa High Court: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju

Mr. Ulaka had queried the details of demands, requests and proposals received from various States including Odisha for setting up of new Benches. He particularly asked if any such proposal is pending with the Union Government for new High Court Benches in the undivided district of Koraput and the Western Odisha.

In reply, Rijiju conveyed that High Court Benches are established in accordance with the recommendations made by the Jaswant Singh Commission and judgment of the Supreme Court in Federation of Bar Associations v. Union of India after giving due consideration to a complete proposal from the State Government.

He also stated that such State Government has to provide the necessary infrastructure and financial aids and the Chief Justice of the High Court is required to take care of the day-to-day administration of the High Court.

"The complete proposal should also have the consent of the Governor of the concerned State", he added.

He acknowledged that requests for establishing Benches at other places except the Principal Bench at Cuttack have been received from the State Government of Odisha, which has requested to set up Benches at Western and Southern regions of the State. He said that the Central Government has requested the State Govt. to work out the details, in consultation with the High Court of Orissa, including its location. However, he clarified,

"…no response has been received yet. At present, no complete proposal from the State Government of Odisha regarding setting up of a Bench of the High Court is pending with the [Union] Government."

Pertinent to note that lawyers from across the State of Odisha and particularly from Western Odisha have been protesting since long with a demand to establish regional Benches of the Orissa High Court. Last month, the Supreme Court had asked the protesting lawyers to get back to work otherwise to face contempt or suspension of licenses. On the last week of last month, the Apex Court had issued a slew of directions including a direction to the Bar Council of India to suspend the licenses of protesting lawyers and to act against the office bearers of Bar Associations.