CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court Museum will be an institution where one can know the rich heritage of Indian judicial history, said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra after inaugurating it at Old Chief Justices’ residence on the premises of Killa Fort on Sunday.
Stating that a museum can never be completed, Misra said what happened in 1950, 1960 or 1860 can be the part of the museum today. Anything happened yesterday can be stored for posterity, he added.
“There are so many things to preserve. Unless you start preserving, you can never be able to proceed,” he said adding that advocates can also contribute. An ink bottle which is 150 years old and may be lying somewhere can be collected and persevered. “But don’t clean it to retain its originality and sanctity,” he said.
Notably, the building constructed in 1904 was used as the residential bungalow of Chief Justice of Orissa. After shifting of Chief Justice residence to the newly constructed building in 2012, the said building being a heritage building was found suitable to house the museum to preserve antique articles, important documents, landmark judgment including the judgment of some freedom fighters and rare portraits of the Orissa Judiciary.
Law books and journals used by Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das, wooden seals used in Bhadrak Judgeship, table lamp (made in England) used in Ganjam Judgeship, Digest of High Court Reports 1881, Brass Badges used in Balangir Judgeship, Locks (made in London) used in Orissa High Court and many other antiques have been showcased in the museum.