Parliament Question: Judicial infrastructure in Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.11 ANSWERED ON 29/01/2026 JUDICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ODISHA 11 Shri Muzibulla Khan:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government proposes to strengthen judicial infrastructure in Odisha, particularly in Cuttack and district courts;

(b) the current judge-population ratio in the State;

(c) the steps taken to reduce pendency of cases in Odisha High Court;

(d) whether additional benches of High Court are under consideration; and

(e) the measures taken to improve access to justice in tribal and backward districts? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.11 FOR REPLY ON 29.01.2026 REGARDING ‘JUDICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ODISHA’.

(a) The primary responsibility for development of infrastructure facilities for District and Subordinate Judiciary rests with the State Governments/UTs. However, to augment the resources of the State Governments/UTs, the Central Government has been implementing a Centrally 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. The fund sharing pattern for the State of Odisha is 60:40 for Centre and State. The Scheme covers five components, viz. Court Halls, Residential Units for Judicial Officers, Lawyers’ Halls, Toilet Complexes and Digital Computer Rooms for the convenience of lawyers and litigants. Total Central assistance of Rs.284.77 crore (as on 31.12.2025) has been provided to the State of Odisha since inception of the Scheme, out of which Rs. 194.53 crore has been provided since FY 2014-15. As on 31.12.2025, State of Odisha have 913 Court Halls and 778 Residential units.

(b) As per the latest information provided by the Odisha High Court, the current Judge population ratio of the State is approximately 20.50 against the national average of approximately 22 Judges per million population.

(c) Disposal of cases pending in various courts lies within the domain of the judiciary. No fixed time frame has been prescribed for disposal of various kinds of cases by the respective courts. Timely disposal of cases in courts depends on several factors which, inter-alia, include availability of adequate number of Judges and Judicial officers, supporting court staff and physical infrastructure, complexity of facts involved, nature of evidence, co-operation of stake holders viz bar, investigation agencies, witnesses, litigants and proper application of rules and procedures. However, the Government is fully committed for speedy disposal of cases and reducing pendency as mandated under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Government has taken several initiatives to provide an ecosystem for faster disposal of cases by the judiciary which, inter-alia, involves better infrastructure for courts including computerization, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.

Further, use of alternative dispute resolution mechanism, establishing Family Courts and Fast track Courts is being promoted for speedy resolution of disputes. The disposal of old cases particularly 10, 20 or 30 years old is also monitored by the High Court as per directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India set out in Action Plan for Arrears Reduction in District Judiciary (APAaR-DJ).

(d) High Court Benches are established 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 Government with a commitment to provide necessary 2expenditure and infrastructural facilities along with the consent of the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court and approval of the Governor of the concerned State are a prerequisite for processing such cases. At present there is no such proposal pending with the Government for setting up of a Bench of Odisha High Court.

(e) In order to improve access to justice in tribal and backward districts, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice has imparted pre-litigation Legal Advice to 4,06,886 citizens through the programme of Tele-Law under the Scheme of Designing Innovative Solution for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA). Details of beneficiaries are as under:

Legal Advice Enabled-Gender and Category-wise (As on 31.12.2025) Female 1,45,524 Gender Male 2,61,362 Total 4,06,886 OBC 97,919 SC 1,37,540 Category ST 94,159 General 77,268 Total 4,06,886 NALSA has also promulgated various schemes for the beneficiaries and regulations to ensure effective discharge of the obligations by the Legal Services Institutions set up under the Legal Services Authorities Act,1987. In the current financial year (up to November 2025), 12,286 persons have been provided legal aid in the State of Odisha through various schemes.

During the year 2025, Odisha State Legal Services Authority has organised four National Lok Adalats through which 9,97,458 cases were settled. ******** 3