Bhubaneswar, Mar 22: The issue of High Court bench in Western Odisha was taken up for discussion in the Assembly on Tuesday with leader of the Opposition Narsingha Mishra throwing weight behind setting up the bench at Bolangir, while others lobbying for other districts. Mishra also questioned the announcement of Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on setting up of the permanent bench of Odisha High Court at Sambalpur and demanded for immediate withdrawal of the latter’s statement. However, MLAs of Congress as well as BJP and BJD have expressed different views on the suitable place for setting up the High Court bench in Western Odisha. Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati said that the bench should be set up at Jeypore in Koraput while BJD’s Dibyashankar Mishra said it would be better if the bench is established at Bhawanipatna. BJD MLA Rajeswari Panigrahy said that the High Court’s permanent bench should be set up at Sambalpur in Western Odisha. Central Commission will take a final call whether the bench will come up at Sambalpur or any other place.”
