BHUBANESWAR: Expressing concern over long pendency of cases in the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday requested the Centre to fill up vacant eight posts of judge in the Orissa High Court at the earliest.
Addressing the joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts at New Delhi, Naveen said despite non-receipt of Central assistance since 2014, Odisha has been making every possible effort to strengthen court infrastructure.
He requested the Centre to supplement the efforts of the State by providing additional resources for creating court infrastructure, residential buildings and other amenities.
The Chief Minister said recognising the importance of timely delivery of justice to common citizens, Odisha has made substantial progress on important decisions taken during the last joint conference held on April 5, 2015.
As many as 30 courts of judicial magistrate first class have been established for ensuring speedy trial of offences against women in the State, the Chief Minister said and added that 26 additional courts of judicial magistrate first class have been set up in remote and topographically challenging districts. Besides, Gramya Nyayalayas have been set up in remote areas of the State to cater to rural population, he said.
Naveen said construction work of 17 district court buildings covering all the newly-created districts and a major judicial complex at the Capital City to accommodate all courts under a single roof at a cost of `200 crore is currently under progress.
There are proposals to establish 29 new courts including four family courts, he said and added that the State Government has plans to set up Lok Adalats, legal literacy camps and legal assistance cells in every gram panchayat.
The Chief Minister said Odisha has agreed to bear all expenses required to implement e-court projects beyond the period supported by the Centre and to support digitisation of records of the Orissa High Court.