BJP member Dharmendra Pradhan raised the issue of the ongoing agitations in the 10 western districts of Odisha demanding a permanent Bench of the Odisha High Court in the region in Rajya Sabha on Friday.
He sought intervention of the Union law Ministry for setting up of a High Court Bench in western Odisha. Stating that the agitation has turned into a mass movement, he said people in the 10 districts in the region have completely boycotted the urban local body (UlB) elections to be held in the State on September 19.
Pradhan said the western region of the State, which rich in natural resources, is going through a phase of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Consequently, the number of legal cases is also going up in the region. Most of these tribals-dominated districts are located 500 km away from the High Court in Cuttack. So, it is justifiable that a High Court Bench is established in the region to ensure justice for its people.