Cuttack, Dec. 21: Orissa High Court today ordered the construction of an office building for the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Berhampur so that it could begin functioning by May, 2011. The court ordered for an interim alternative arrangement for proper functioning of the tribunal within 10 days.

The two-judge bench of Justice B.P. Das and Justice Sanju Panda set the deadline for the shifting of MACT, which is presently functioning from a rented house after the state commerce and transport secretary Gagan Dhal, revenue divisional commissioner (southern division) Chandrasekhar Kumar and Ganjam collector V. Kartikeyan Pandian, who were present in the court, sought more time.

The three IAS officers had been directed to make personal appearance before the bench today to resolve the problem of functioning of the MACT in Berhampur.

The high court had registered a PIL on the basis of a report submitted by its registrar (administration), expressing concern over the backlog of thousands of pending cases at the three MACTs in the state owing to lack of infrastructure.

Advocate P.R. Dash was appointed amicus curiae by the court in March to study the conditions in which the three MACTs in the state at Sambalpur, Berhampur and Cuttack were functioning after the state government did not submit a status report on them.

The MACT in Berhampur was functioning from a rented house located more than 2km from the civil court premises. The principal district judge, along with two other additional district judges, took up MACT cases, but hearing in nearly 50 per cent of the accident claim cases were being held at the MACT court outside the court campus due to lack of space, the amicus curiae had reported.

On August 6 the High Court had directed for shifting of the MACT at Berhampur to a suitable building and a convenient location. The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (South Division) and Collector of Ganjam were directed by the Court to expedite the process. The High Court expected a compliance report by the end of August.

The orders for personal appearance of the three senior IAS officers were issued as there had been no change in the situation at the MACT in Berhampur.

Ganjam Collector V.Kartikeyan Pandian today submitted before the Court that required funds had been allotted for the MACT building along with residential quarters for the presiding judge, but more time was required for completion of construction work.

The Court allowed time till May, 2011. “But interim alternative arrangement for proper functioning of the MACT should be made within ten days. Interim accommodation should also be made for the presiding judge within ten days”, the bench ordered.

Earlier, the High Court had in August ensured shifting of MACT, Sambalpur from a rented house to the Old Red Court building in the western Orissa town after required repair and renovation by the state transport department.