Kendrapada: There is no such proposal pending with the Union govt at present to set up a bench of Orissa high court. Such benches are set up in accordance with the recommendations made by the Jaswant Singh Commission and judgment pronounced by the apex court in W.P.(C) No.379 of 2000.The proposal from the state govt with a commitment to provide necessary expenditure and infrastructural facilities along with the consent of the Chief Justice of the high court concerned and approval of the governor of the state concerned are a prerequisite for processing such cases, said the minister of state (independent charge) of the ministry of law and justice and minister of state in the ministry of parliamentary affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwalin, in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.Replying to a question of Muzibulla Khan, the minister further stated that the primary responsibility for development of infrastructure facilities for district and subordinate judiciary rests with the state govts/UTs. However, to augment the resources of the state govts/UTs, the central govt has been implementing a Centre-sponsored scheme (CSS) for the development of infrastructure facilities for judiciary in the district and subordinate courts since 1993-94, by providing financial assistance in the prescribed fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and states/UTs.
