Bhubaneswar, Sept 3: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said that the issue of setting up a High Court bench in the western region of the State is "under consideration" of the government.

The Chief Minister said this in a statement in the Assembly before the commencement of the Zero Hour in the House.

"The issue of setting up a High Court bench in Western Odisha is under consideration of the government," he said.

The BJP government in Odisha is committed to provide speedy justice to the people, Majhi said, giving a message in the Assembly that his government was not averse to setting up a High Court bench in the State.

However, while replying to a written question in the Assembly, Majhi on Monday had informed the House that "as per the Supreme Court verdict, there is no justification in having a bench of high court in any part of the state."

Senior BJP lawmaker and veteran leader from the western region, Jaynarayan Mishra has said: "We (BJP) have not withdrawn the demand for a HC bench in western Odisha. The CM has referred to the Supreme Court judgment, but the state's population and HC cases are increasing. Why can't Odisha have an HC bench when Uttar Pradesh has three, and other states also have them?"

BJD MLA from Balangir Kalikesh Singh Deo who had asked the written question, said: "Today, the CM clarified that the matter is under consideration. He should give an assurance on the floor of the House on whether a circuit bench or a permanent bench of the HC will be set up in Balangir and also mention the stipulated time frame."

Notably, the Supreme Court’s December 2022 ruling stated that the demand for a bench of Orissa High Court had become obsolete with advancements in technology. It also noted that Odisha was not large enough to warrant permanent benches outside Cuttack.

The apex court’s verdict came after vandalism at Sambalpur court premises on November 12, 2022.

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