Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) media cell chairman Narasingha Mishra on Monday lamented here that the State Government was delaying in recommending to the Centre the setting up of a permanent bench of the High Court (HC) in western Odisha.
Mishra said the people of Sambalpur and Jharsaguda districts have decided to boycott the Urban local Body (UlB) polls irrespective of party after they found the boycott of courts and casework failed to yield any result. A Government which has taken an oath to abide by the Constitutional obligations to the people of the State has completely failed to do so, Mishra charged, citing the inability of the State Government to establish a bench of the HC at Sambalpur, when the Centre is willing to provide all help required for the purpose.
The people of western Odisha, especially districts like Sambalpur and Jharsaguda have decided not to participate in the ensuing NAC and Municipal elections. Due to inaction of the State Government, the Constitutional mandate is going to be violated with the boycott of the polls and it will lead to another Constitutional crisis, Mishra alleged.
Further, he alleged the Naveen Patnaik- led BJD Government’s narrow political game is the only obstacle in the establishment of the HC bench as the Central Government is ready to prove whatever cooperation needed for the purpose. CM Patnaik should intervene to defuse the Constitutional crisis and ensure rule of law in the State failing which the Congress would approach the State Governor to save the State from the crisis, Mishra warned.