Bhubaneswar, Jan. 25: Chief Justice of Orissa High Court A.K. Goel today said that state government had proposed to increase the strength of judges in the high court from 22 to 27.

“According to the norms, there should be at least 43 judges in Orissa High Court. The current number, however, is less. The increase in the number of judges at all the levels will help speed up justice,” said Goel, speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a new judicial complex on the premises of the District and Sessions Court of Khurda here.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Supreme Court judge justice A.K. Patnaik.

The project is likely to be completed next year. The state-of-the-art multi-storey court complex will address many of the problems that both the litigants and the members of the legal fraternity face at present.

About 20 courts will function from the complex and the number may increase in the course of time.

“There have been parking problems on the current court premises. Also, there are no facilities for the litigants. Security is another issue. But, once all these courts come to one place, it will solve these problems,” said the chief minister, adding that the complex would be able to accommodate 50 courts.

Secretary of Bhubaneswar Bar Association Prasanna Parida said the complex would have four multi-storey buildings with two wings, one for judicial matters and another for revenue courts.