Foundation stone for the new building of Centre for Judicial Archives of Odisha laid by Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister and Justice Vineet Saran, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India

In 2021 after establishment of Record Room Digitization Centre (RRDC) when preservation of old case records was taken up, documents dating back to the early 19th century containing information on the functioning of the erstwhile judicial system were discovered. This led to conception of an idea of having a project for documenting the Judicial History of Odisha. In March, 2022 the Chief Justice put forth a proposal before the Chief Minister for support of the State Government in establishment of a Centre for Judicial Archives and support for the judicial history project which was accepted by the Chief Minister. Within a month the Centre for Judicial Archives came into existence by a Notification dated 1st May, 2022 of the Home Department, Government of Odisha. Since then the Centre has been functioning in RRDC.

Thereafter, the State Government provided land of Ac.1.884 decimals in Sector-1, C.D.A. near the RRDC for construction of a new building for the Centre. On 28th January 2023, foundation stone was laid by Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha for a new building of the Centre in presence of Justice Vineet Saran, former Judge, Supreme Court of India and former Chief Justice of High Court of Orissa, Dr. S. Muralidhar, the then Chief Justice and the sitting and former Judges of High Court of Orissa. The estimated cost of the four storied building is Rs.34,89,55,743/-. Construction of the building is presently going on and expected to be completed by June, 2024. The building will have provisions of quarantine rooms for records, conservation laboratories, library, research room, archive stores, conference room and exhibition area.

On the occasion of laying the foundation stone the Chief Minister said, the Centre would be immensely beneficial to the historians and legal luminaries for meaningful reconstruction of history and provide access to research scholars and public and would also stimulate academic activities through symposiums and seminars.

Foundation Stone for High Court Employees’ Residential Complex laid by Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister and Justice Vineet Saran, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India

The residential complex for High Court employees was a long standing demand as the employees have been facing difficulty due to inadequate staff quarters as compared to staff strength. On the request of the High Court, the State Government made available a land of 10 acres at Sector 13, C.D.A., Cuttack for construction of a residential complex for the High Court employees. On 28th January, 2023 the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of this project along with the project of Centre for Judicial Archives. The proposed complex will have 200 D-type flats and 350 E-type flats in 12 towers with amenities like community centre, sports centre, plantation, children’s park, lawn etc. The estimated cost of the residential complex is Rs.284,29,02,000/- . The construction will begin shortly and is expected to be completed in 2 years.

The List Section was not spacious enough in old building. After vacation of the ground floor of the old building by the office of the Advocate General, the same was refurbished to accommodate the list and copying section with adequate space. The copying section has been designed to provide hassle free access to the advocates and litigants as well. On 24th February 2023, Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice along with the members of the High Court Building Committee inaugurated refurbished List and Copying Sections in the ground floor of the Heritage Building in presence of the Judges of the High Court.

A museum of the High Court had been set up in the old residence of the Chief Justice in 2017 within the Barabati Fort, Cuttack. Subsequently, a decision was taken to refurbish it. On 25th February, 2023 the refurbished Museum of Justice inside the Barabati Quila, Cuttack was inaugurated by Professor Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha in the presence of Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice, the Judges of the High Court of Orissa, eminent historians and the students of law and history.

The Record Rooms of the High Court and District Courts containing old records dating back to 19th Century were the real trigger behind the thought to rejuvenate the High Court Museum as the Museum of Justice. The idea was to showcase the stories of freedom fighters, famous personal. ities and events which lay hidden in these records and to present before the public the evolution of legal system of Odisha.

One theme pavilion and seven galleries have been set up in the Museum of Justice apart from a library and a souvenir shop. Besides, there will be an audio visual room. Refurbishment of the Museum was done in collaboration with INTACH.

Besides expanding the concept and contents of the Museum, the peripheral area has been developed and landscaped by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation and the Roads & Buildings Division, Works Department, Government of Odisha.

Apart from artefacts and documents of historical importance related to the Judiciary, a virtual walk through of the High Court is displayed in the Museum. Besides, a miniature model of the High Court is exhibited and century old records are digitally displayed to make visitors more educative and attractive towards the Museum of Justice.

On 30th March 2023 the new High Court Guest House Building at Puri was inaugurated by Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice in presence of the companion Judges of High Court of Orissa. The need to have a new guest house was felt as the old guest house having insufficient suits suffered severe damage during the devastating cyclone “FANI”. Thus, the new building with 28 suites and rooms was constructed at the same site at Puri with cost of Rs.20,51,27,000/-.

The erstwhile Computer Section, though renovated in its earlier place, did not have enough space after recruitment of new Assistant Section Officers. Hence, after shifting of the Arbitration Centre from the High Court premises, it was decided to use the said complex as IT Cell to accommodate all the wings of the computer section under one roof. On 21st July 2023 Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice along with the members of the building committee inaugurated new IT Cell in the ground floor of the old building.

The I.L.R. (Cuttack series) is the official law journal of this Court being published every month and the duty of law reporter section is to prepare the manuscript for error free publication and distribution. The section was running without having store room for keeping journal in every month. The space was inadequate for effective functioning of the section. Therefore, it was decided to shift the law reporter section to a newly constructed room adjacent to copying section having sufficient space for keeping journals. On 6th August, 2023 Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa inaugurated the renovated Law Reporter Section in the presence of Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Chief Justice – Designate and other Companion Judges of the High Court of Orissa.

On 23rd August, 2023 Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa inaugurated the newly constructed Covered Parking of the High Court of Orissa in the presence Hon’ble Companion Judges of the High Court of Orissa. The covered parking has been constructed in front of the portico of Court’s new building having 20,000 square feet area to accommodate near about 60 four wheelers and 250 two wheelers. Besides, roof top of the covered parking is used for holding official meeting and functions. The cost of the project was Rs.4,02,51,806/-.

In order to obviate the problem of congestion in different sections of the Court, an expansion building of Administrative block (G+5) has been constructed. The building was inaugurated on 23rd August, 2023 by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Chief Justice, in presence of the Companion Judges of the High Court of Orissa. All sorts of modern facilities with work station, comfortable chairs, cupboards and storage cabinets have been provided in the expansion building to create a congenial working atmosphere. The cost of the project was Rs.1,79,79,310/-.

The idea of setting up a digital reference library is to provide hassle-free access of selected journals to advocates, staff and officers of the Court. On 22nd September, 2023 at 9.30 AM, Hon’ble Shri Justice Subhasis Talapatra, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa along with the members of the Building Committee, AI & IT Committee and Library Committee inaugurated Digital Reference Library in the first floor of the second extension building.

The High Court dispensary was functioning in the ground floor of the Administrative Block. There was paucity of space to accommodate newly appointed doctors and staff. Besides, the dispensary is required to be modernised. Accordingly, after expansion of administrative block, an idea conceived for renovation and augmentation of dispensary with its allied organs. On 18th October, 2023 Hon’ble Dr. Justice B.R. Sarangi, Acting Chief Justice inaugurated refurbished High Court Dispensary in presence of other Hon’ble Judges.

An office is essential for employees association to promote good relation between staff so also for effective implementation of condition of service rules. Hence, after shifting of the erstwhile Roneo section from the ground floor of police barrack, it was decided to use the said room as office of the Orissa High Court employees association. Therefore on 6th November, 2023 it was inaugurated by Hon’ble Dr. Justice B.R. Sarangi, Acting Chief Justice, in presence of the Hon’ble Companion Judges of the High Court of Orissa.

An office is essential for employees association to promote good relation between staff so also for effective implementation of condition of service rules. Hence, after shifting of the erstwhile Roneo section from the ground floor of police barrack, it was decided to use the said room as office of the Orissa High Court employees association. Therefore on 6th November, 2023 it was inaugurated by Hon’ble Dr. Justice B.R. Sarangi, Acting Chief Justice, in presence of the Hon’ble Companion Judges of the High Court of Orissa.

Protocol and vehicle sections were functioning in two different buildings of the Court in congested manner though connected with each other. In order to give the staff a superior working environment and to get a better productivity, both the sections were shifted together to ground floor of the Court’s new building with all kinds of modern facilities. On 4th December, 2023 Hon’ble Dr. Justice B.R Sarangi, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa inaugurated the refurbished Protocol and vehicle section of the Court.