Report: Sudam Babu|State Bureau Odisha

Boudh, Odisha: A new step toward strengthening judicial infrastructure in Boudh district was marked with the laying of the foundation stone for C-Type residential quarters for judicial officers.

The foundation stone ceremony was conducted virtually by Justice Harish Tandon, Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa, marking the beginning of a project aimed at improving residential facilities for members of the district judiciary.

The programme brought together judges, senior district administration officials, members of the legal fraternity, engineering officials and representatives of the media.

Justice Sabitri Ratho, Judge of the High Court of Orissa and Administrative Judge for Boudh district, along with other judges of the High Court, attended the occasion.

At the district-level programme, Boudh District and Sessions Judge Pratap Kumar Patra, Additional District and Sessions Judge Akhil Kumar Paschimkabat, and Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Registrar-cum-ASJ Niranjan Patra were among those present. Boudh Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak and Additional District Magistrate Aniruddha Pradhan also participated in the ceremony.

Several members of the district judiciary attended the event, including Civil Judge (Senior Division), Women’s Court, Sunanda Sahu; Civil Judge (Senior Division) Anushila Roy; District Legal Services Authority Secretary Shraddhanjali Ray; Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-SD-JM, Boudh, Niranjan Dash; and Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-JMFC Susmita Priyadarshini.

The event also saw participation from representatives of different Bar Associations and members of the local legal community. Civil and Criminal Bar Secretaries Shantanu Kumar Mahapatra and Nikunja Madhab Behera, along with District Bar Secretary Dhableswar Manhira, attended the programme.

Senior advocates, including Sudhir Karn, Naba Kumar Mishra, Tareni Mahapatra and Om Prakash Mishra, were also present.

Officials associated with the Works Department participated in the ceremony as well. Superintending Engineer Sandeep Chhualsingh and Executive Engineer Kuna Charan Singh represented the department. District Information and Public Relations Officer Bidyapati Panda and representatives of various media organisations were also in attendance.

The proposed residential quarters are expected to provide improved accommodation facilities for judicial officers posted in Boudh. Better residential infrastructure can also support the effective functioning of the district judiciary by providing suitable facilities for officers serving in the area.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Justice Harish Tandon expressed hope that the new residential facilities would help enhance the overall judicial infrastructure of Boudh and support the efficient functioning of the district’s judicial administration.

The foundation-laying ceremony thus marked an important beginning for the development of dedicated residential facilities for judicial officers and formed part of the broader effort to strengthen institutional infrastructure supporting the justice delivery system in the district.