Bhubaneswar, Feb. 13: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today shot off another letter to Union minister for law and justice Kapil Sibal to take a favourable decision regarding setting up of a high court bench in west Odisha.

Naveen urged Sibal to engage in a dialogue with the high court in this regard.

However, the letter has sidestepped the major issues raised by Sibal in his October 23-letter to Naveen. In that letter, Sibal had asked the chief minister to identify places for location of the proposed permanent benches of Orissa High Court in west and south Odisha and other infrastructure required for it. Sibal also stated that the consent of the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court was mandatory in the matter.

Naveen’s letter comes in the wake of a fresh agitation launched by lawyers, who have called a west Odisha strike on February 19. As general elections are due and civic elections in the area had to be postponed because of the agitation in September last, the ongoing agitation has worried the BJD.

Selection of a location to set up high court benches is a contentious issue as the lawyers of west Odisha are divided over the issue. While Sambalpur lawyers are in favour of setting up the permanent bench in their hometown, lawyers from Balangir and Rourkela have demanded it in their respective towns. Similarly, the lawyers of south Odisha are demanding a bench. But, they have also been divided over the issue.

Considering it to be a tough task to find a suitable place, Naveen has put the ball in Sibal’s court, urging him to engage in a dialogue on this issue with the high court. “In view of the persisting agitation by the people of both the regions, I would urge upon you to engage with Orissa High Court for an early response based on which I am hopeful that a favourable solution can emerge to fulfil this long-pending demand,” Naveen said.

On September 28 last, Naveen wrote a letter to the Centre, urging it to take steps to set up high court benches in west and south Odisha without obtaining the consent of Orissa High Court’s Chief Justice. The letter also did not specify the exact location of the proposed benches.

On October 23 last, Sibal wrote back, stating that consent of the Chief Justice was mandatory in the matter. Apart from the location, he has asked Naveen to specify details of availability of land and other infrastructure.

The high court had turned down Naveen’s plea for permanent benches in Sambalpur and Berhampur six years ago. It was on the basis of the high court verdict that Naveen’s recommendation was turned down by the then Chief Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly on December 4, 2007.