Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 5: The state government will set up 45 new courts for speedy trial and disposal of pending cases in lower courts across the state. A decision to this effect was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by finance minister Pradeep Kumar Amat Thursday.
“As per the recommendation of the full bench of the high court, the state government has decided to set up 45 courts,” said law minister Arun Sahu adding, “A committee comprising the finance and law ministers, the law secretary and ACS, Finance, deliberated on the budgetary provision and the modalities for the establishment of these courts.”
The lawminister said, “The 45 courts include family courts, Gram Nyayalaya, additional district judge (ADJ) courts, fast track courts, and civil judge (senior division) courts and a few others.” The decision will ensure the provision of one court in every 50km in the state and will further remove the burden of lower courts.
Bearing in mind the growing number of pending cases, the state high court had proposed that the state government establish at least one court in each block across the state. “Acting on the high court’s directive, we have taken the decision,’’ said law secretary Mihir Parida, adding, “As the state government has certain financial constraints, it is not possible for us to set up courts in every block at present. Due to this, we have decided to set up 45 courts, to start with.”
He, however, said, the government will take steps for establishment of more courts at block and district levels in future.
Since the pendency of cases is high in Koraput, Kalahandi and a few other districts, Parida said, “Considering the need for courts in rural areas, priority will be given to tribal areas and remote pockets of the state during the setting up of these courts.”