HC vacancies to be filled up soon: CJI

Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir on Sunday assured to take steps to fill up the vacancies in the posts of the Judges in the Orissa High Court even as he stressed on strengthening of alternative redressal mechanisms. The Orissa High Court has a sanctioned strength of 22 against which 13 judges are in position.

Inaugurating the new eight-storied building of the Orissa High Court in the presence of Governor MC Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Justice Kabir said that Lok Adalats, conciliations and legal aid cells should be energised and oriented to play important role in resolution of litigations and reduce the pendency of cases in the courts.

Governor MC Bhandare expressed confidence that the new infrastructure would spruce up the justice delivery system while Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated that the State Government would provide all assistance for development of required facilities and infrastructure for the judiciary in the State.

The new building has 22 court rooms and an equal number of chambers for judges which will be made functional within a couple of months. Justice AK Patnaik of Supreme Court, Chief Justice V Gopalagowda of Orissa High Court, Advocate General Ashok Mohanty, Chairman of Orissa State Bar Council Gopal Krushna Mohanty, judges of the Orissa High Court and representatives of the High Court bar association were present.