The Government has decided to set up 60 lower courts at different places in the State during the current year, 2019-20, informed Law Minister Pratap Jena in the State Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question of BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo and additional questions of other members, Jena said that an Additional District and Sessions Judge Court would also be opened at Pattamundai under the Rajnagar Assembly constituency. He said the Government would soon propose to the Orissa High Court for creation posts and thereafter steps would be taken up for setting up of the proposed courts.
While some members wanted to know why local people’s representatives are not invited to attend the opening ceremonies of courts in their respective area, the Minister said that the High Court authorities coordinate such ceremonies and normally judges inaugurate the courts. He, however, said he would take up the concern of the members of the House with the Chief Justice of the High Court in this regard.
The Minister said that all Gram Nyayalayas have been given the power of JMFC Courts.
Among others, Sukant Nayak (BJP), Anant Das (BJD), Prabhu Janai (BJD), Santosh Singh Saluja (Cong), Nityananda Gond (BJP) and Pradip Kumar Amat (BJD) put additional questions.