Chief minister Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, July 25: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today said steps were being taken to set up permanent benches of the high court in western and southern Odisha.

“I have been intimated by government of India that they are in communication with Orissa High Court seeking their views on the matter,” said Naveen in the Assembly while responding to the debate on the home department’s budget. The Congress and BJP members staged a walkout expressing their dissatisfaction over the reply.

The high court’s opinion is mandatory for setting up the permanent bench.

Responding to Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra’s demand for setting up the high court bench, Naveen said: “I had already written to the then Union minister of law and justice assuring him to provide adequate funds and infrastructure for establishment of high court benches in Western and southern Odisha.”

Later, replying on to posers on the law and order situation in the state, Naveen said it was well within control.

“People of our state know the commitment and sincerity with which my government deals with issues concerning the state, including Left-wing extremism,” he said.

Naveen said the incidents of Maoist violence had declined in the state in 2013 and 2014. A total of 128 Naxal-related incidents have been reported in the state during this period, which includes 41 incidents of exchange of fire between the Maoists and police, he said.

In order to check crime against women, the chief minister said complaints could be lodged at any police station and then be transferred to the one having proper jurisdiction for investigation.

Initiating the debate, Mishra said: “The home department seems to be working not under the chief minister, but someone else. While the white paper issued by the home department speaks about increase in the number of rape cases, the chief minister who is the head of the department, in his reply, said he did not have the required information.”

The state government today admitted rise in the number of crimes committed against women in 2013. The white paper on law and order, prepared by the state home department, said that 1,832 rape cases were registered in 2013 against 1,458 in 2012 and 1,112 in 2011. The government explained that more number of rape cases had been registered due to the growing awareness level. It also reasoned that several victims had filed rape cases alleging that they had been duped by the accused who established physical contacts with them on the false promise of marriage. This year, 256 such cases had been registered during the year.

Of the 1,832 rape cases registered in 2013, charge sheets have been filed in 1,161 cases. However, only five rape accused have been convicted, while 27 won acquittal.

The twin cities of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack recorded 81 rape cases, 51 and 30 respectively, during 2013. However, tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district registered the highest number of rape cases (142), followed by Keonjhar (115) and Balasore (94).

Dowry-related crimes also showed a rising trend in 2013 compared to previous year. In all, 540 dowry death cases were registered during 2013 against 526 in the previous year. Similarly, 3,489 dowry torture cases were recorded in 2013, compared to 3,054 in the previous year.