CUTTACK: Two days after CBI personnel showed up at the doorstep of a judge of the Orissa High Court, a division bench issued a notice to the agency asking why and wherefore. Hearing a public interest litigation filed by the High Court Bar Association seeking a judicial inquiry into the incident, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice BR Sarangi also issued similar notices to the Central Government, the Home Department of Odisha and other parties. The petition has been posted for hearing to October 16.
The High Court Bar Association filed a petition on Thursday seeking an inquiry by a sitting judge or a directive to the State Government to institute a similar inquiry either by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a sitting judge of the High Court. The association said the act was a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary.
With the High Court issuing notices, the Bar Association. which had resorted to a cease-work in protest against the CBI action, called off its agitation on Friday. It will next meet on October 19 to decide on the future course of action.
The CBI officials’ midnight visit is being probed by Twin City Commissionerate Police. The agency personnel allegedly claimed to have a warrant to search the house. However, they were blocked by the judge’s security guards. Later, a PCR van reached the spot and sought to know what they were doing at the judge’s residence to which the sleuths replied that they had a warrant to search the house of former Orissa High Court judge IM Quddushi.
After it was pointed out to them that they were at the wrong address, the CBI officials were escorted to the police station and allowed to go following verification of their identity.Justice Quddushi, charged in a private medical college scam, was arrested by CBI on Thursday at New Delhi.
State seeks funds for development of rural and spiritual tourism circuits
Bhubaneswar: Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Ashok Chandra Panda has requested the Centre for sanction of funds for development of rural and spiritual circuits in Odisha. Panda raised the issue during his meeting with Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Alphons Kannanthanam at New Delhi on Friday. Panda said, the State Government has already requested the Centre for funds under 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme in October, 2015 and January, 2016 respectively. He also drew the attention of the Union Minister for implementation of light and sound show at Khandagiri which has been pending for long. He also emphasised on promotion of diamond quadrangle of Buddhist sites of Odisha in India Tourism Publicity Campaign.