Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the State, particularly in urban areas, a Vacation Bench of the Odisha High Court on Thursday ordered the State Government to form a high-level committee under the Chief Secretary to constantly monitor and periodically review the situation in order to instil confidence among the panic-stricken common people.
The Bench of Justices BP Ray and Biswanath Rath came down heavily on the State police for their callous and insipid attitude in maintaining proper law and order. The Chief Secretary-headed committee would have the DGP, Twin City Commissioner of Police, all DCPs of urban police department and district SPs as its members, the HC ordered.
The High Court’s ire came while adjudicating a PIl filed by social activist Chittaranjan Mohanty, who in his petition has detailed certain recent crimes in the State, including the daring robbery in the house of retired High Court Judge PK Mohanty and several other incidents of crime in Cuttack city.
The petitioner has attributed the recent incidents to a “complete breakdown of policing in the State” and sought proper and thorough investigations either by the CBI or by any other independent agency into the May 30 robbery in the house of Justice Mohanty. Armed dacoits had decamped with unsubstantial amounts of cash and jewellery after tying the 70-year-old Mohanty and his family members.
Posting the petition to be adjudicated again after the ongoing summer vacation, the High Court issued notices to the State Government and ordered that steps be taken swiftly within ten days to replace the Inspectors-in-Charge (IICs) of two police stations in the satellite city of Abhinav Bidanasi in Cuttack with suitable officers.