Genuine demand

Sir — The movement for the establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court in western Odisha has been resurrected. The drive is no more confined to lawyers and litigants, but has turned into a mass campaign.

It is unfortunate that the genuine demands of the people of this region in general and that of Balangir in particular have not been fulfilled. 

The legal and constitutional aspirations of more than one-third of the people of the State are being suppressed to appease a handful of people who are determined not to share justice and prosperity with the downtrodden. 

The legality and necessity of the establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court are not disputed, because nine out of 24 High Courts have already set up 12 permanent Benches. The criteria given by experts on the issue are met for the formation of a permanent bench of the High Court at Balangir