Bhubaneswar: Over 12 lakh cases are pending in different courts in the state, including 1.69 lakh cases in the High Court, a minister said Tuesday.
Replying to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Dilip Ray, law minister Arun Sahoo told the Assembly that 12,33,492 cases were pending in the Orissa High Court and lower courts till December, 2015.
A total of 1,30,748 civil cases and 38,705 criminal cases are pending in the Orissa High Court while 2.63 lakh civil cases and over 8 lakh criminal cases are pending in the lower courts, the minister added.
The state government is yet to gather information on the pending cases from the state in the Supreme Court.
In response to a question by Biju Janata Dal legislator Prafulla Samal, the law minister said the government was taking steps to fill up the 76 vacant posts of judges in different courts.
Sahoo said the government was in the process of setting up courts and Lok Adalats to ensure speedy delivery of justice to people.
The state government has planned to appoint one lawyer at each gram panchayat from July this year, Sahoo said.
“They will sensitise the people about the welfare programmes of the government besides giving legal advice,” he added. IANS
