TNI Bureau: BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Friday met Union Law & Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in New Delhi and submitted a detailed memorandum seeking consideration for establishment of Permanent and/or Circuit Benches of the Orissa High Court in Western and Southern Odisha.

In his memorandum, Dr. Patra highlighted the long-standing demand for regional benches to ensure equitable and affordable access to justice for people residing in geographically distant and tribal-dominated districts of the state. He noted that litigants from Western and Southern Odisha continue to face major practical difficulties in approaching the principal seat of the High Court at Cuttack.

The BJD MP pointed out that the demand for a bench in Western Odisha has existed for decades and has consistently received support from lawyers, public representatives and citizens cutting across party lines. He also underlined that several High Courts across India already function through permanent or circuit benches in order to address regional imbalance and improve judicial accessibility.

Citing examples such as benches of the Allahabad, Bombay, Madras, Karnataka and Calcutta High Courts, Dr. Patra argued that establishment of regional benches is a constitutionally accepted mechanism to strengthen access to justice in underserved regions.

He urged the Union Government to initiate an appropriate consultative process involving the judiciary, the state government and the Centre for setting up:

1) A permanent and/or circuit bench of the Orissa High Court for Western Odisha.

2) A permanent and/or circuit bench framework for Southern Odisha.

Dr. Patra said the issue concerns ensuring that constitutional justice remains practical, accessible and equitable for all citizens of Odisha, irrespective of geography.