“Justice Biswanath Rath had directed personal appearance of the State Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and DGP”.
The Orissa High Court on Wednesday rapped the State government for not being “serious” in proper functioning of Courts in the State even as two senior officers in presence of the Advocate General (AG) begged apology and gave an assurance that concrete steps would be taken henceforth for smooth functioning of the courts.
In response to an order passed on Tuesday for personal appearance of the State Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the DGP, only DGP Sanjeeb Marik and an additional secretary in the Home department appeared in person before the court of Justice Biswanath Rath on Wednesday and expressed their regrets for the inconvenience caused.
They also assured the court to make all possible attempts for immediate functioning of the Courts.
While the lawyers are boycotting the courts for last five days demanding stringent action against erring IPS officer Satish Gajbhiye for being brutal and rowdy on public during last week’s trouble in Kendrapara, Justice Rath, during adjudication of a criminal miscellaneous case on Tuesday, became furious when neither the petitioner not the petitioner’s advocate appeared to argue the case.
Expressing displeasure over the non-functioning of the courts, Justice Rath had ordered for the personal appearances of the top functionaries of the State government. DGP Marik and the Home department officer, however, appearing in person made clear to the Court that they are “deeply sorry” for the present situation and on behalf of the State also assured to make attempts for immediate functioning of the Courts at least, by ensuring presence of officials with case records in the listed matters.
Prasanta Patnaik