The Orissa has directed the government to constitute a high-level committee in order to monitor the smooth functioning of quasi-judicial forums in the state. JusticeBiswanath Rathissued the direction on October 19 while adjudicating on a petition questioning the functioning of such forums.
Cases involving the OdishaLand Reforms(General) Amendment Rules, 2015, and theOrissa Survey and Settlement Act, 1959, among others, are settled through the quasi-judicial forums.
The high court divided the petitioners’ allegations into three categories – first, in quasi-judicial proceedings initiated around four years ago, there is no admission of such matters for a long period of time; second, there is no hearing even on matters admitted around 15 years ago; third, many posts in the forums remain vacant on most occasions.