The State Government on Thursday decided to open 45 more courts this year to lessen the burden on the existing courts for speedy disposal of cases in lower courts. A high-level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pradip Amat approved opening of 45 new courts within a distance of 50 km of each other. The members of a committee comprising the Finance and law Ministers, the law Secretary and the ACS, Finance deliberated on the modalities on setting up of the proposed courts.
Notably, the Odisha High Court had recommended the Government to establish more courts in view of the piling up of the cases in various existing courts. law Secretary Mihir Parida said the new courts would include Family Court, Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court, Judicial Magistrate Fast Track Court, Civil Judge (Senior Division) Court and Gram Nyayalaya. The decision has been taken following the High Court’s approval, he said.
The decision was taken considering the State’s demography and the tribal population. The pendency of cases is high in the tribals-dominated Koraput and Kalahandi districts and several other areas, he said.
More courts would be opened in every block in later phases, he informed. law Minister Arun Sahu said that on the recommendation of a Full Bench of the High Court, various courts would be set up. The committee discussed the budgetary provision and other formalities for setting up of the courts.
The High Court had observed that people in the tribals-dominated and inaccessible areas of the State are facing difficulties in coming to the courts and advised the Government to establish courts in every 50-km distance, he added.