BJP leader Suresh Pujari has urged the Centre to bring an ordinance for establishing High Court Benches in southern and western Odisha.
“At the same time, there is no justification for Pal Commission to continue after the recommendation of the Chief Minister to the Centre for establishment of High Court benches in western and southern Odisha,” said Puajri here. “The recommendation of the State Government to the Centre is also Constitutionally right from all fronts,” Pujari said further.
“After the recommendation of the Chief Minister, the ball is now in the court of the Central Government. Hence, without making any further delay, it must bring an ordinance for the establishment of the benches,” he suggested. Pujari further said that since the tenure of the 15th lok Sabha is going to be completed soon, the Central Government needs to be more active and prompt without wasting further time.
In order to remind the UPA Government at the Centre of its promise made on different occasions that the Centre would consider establishing High Court benches only after recommendation from the State Government, Pujari said now that the State Government had done its part and action of the Centre was awaited. “If the Central Government wants to establish High Court benches with all sincerity, it can do it within 24 hours,” he said.
“There is no abnormality in demanding permanent bench in different parts. But a bench in western Odisha can only safeguard the unity of the State,” he made it clear. This would also enable people to get justice at the door step, he reiterated. He further said that except Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, all the major States of the country have permanent benches, besides the principal bench. Even some States have more than one permanent bench for the convenience of the people, he said.
On the protest of the High Court Bar on establishment of benches, Pujari reminded it of Ranjit Mohanty and many other renowned advocates of Cuttack who long back had supported benches in other parts of the State and western Odisha, in particular. “Those who now protest benches in other parts of the State need to give respect to their ancestors,” he asserted, appealing the intelligentsia to come forward to solve the vital problem.
Others who spoke included Odisha State Bar Council member Bijay Kumar Purohit, Govind Agrawal and Atanu Ghose.