Cuttack: Orissa high court has directed the Orissa High Court Bar Association to submit a fresh list of advocates to represent all 59 wards under Cuttack Municipal Corporation in connection with an ongoing PIL on civic issues affecting the city.A special bench comprising Justices K R Mohapatra and V Narasingh issued the direction while taking note of the recent election of new office-bearers of the association. The court asked the association’s secretary, Hrudananda Mohapatra, to file the revised list in a sealed cover by April 15.The bench also called upon the Bar Association to form a committee of not more than five members, mandating the inclusion of at least two women, to assist the court on issues relating to major healthcare institutions in the city, including SCB Medical College and Hospital and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Pediatrics, as well as other concerns linked to the health sector.Clarifying the procedure for handling civic grievances, the court said matters concerning Cuttack would now be entertained only through an advocates’ committee representing specific wards or residents’ welfare committees.The advocates’ committee, led by the president and secretary of High Court Bar Association, was formed a year ago to render assistance to the court to deal with the issues raised as part of the PIL from time to time.“To ensure ease of conducting the proceeding and to address multifarious issues plaguing Cuttack city that need to be addressed in the present PIL, this modality is adopted. It is needless to say that the same can be suitably modified taking into account, on the strength of inputs from the stake holders,” the Bench said.Expressing confidence in the proposed mechanism, the bench said it had “no iota of doubt” that the advocates’ committee would extend necessary assistance whenever required, particularly in advancing the concerns of common citizens whose voices often go unheard.The court further said it expects continued proactive cooperation from state functionaries, counsel appearing for the Union and state govts, the municipal corporation and other state-run agencies in addressing the issues raised in the PIL. The next sitting of the Special Bench is scheduled for May 7.
