CM Inaugurates Judicial Archives Centre in Cuttack

Cuttack: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday inaugurated the Centre for Judicial Archives in Cuttack, Odisha. The facility, established in collaboration with the Orissa High Court, aims to preserve the state’s invaluable legal documents and judicial records.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Orissa High Court Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, and other dignitaries.

Set up in CDA Sector-1 at a cost of Rs 38 crore, the Centre for Judicial Archives has been designed to safeguard fragile judicial records from the High Court and district courts across Odisha. Since its foundation was laid on January 28, 2023, the centre has successfully preserved approximately 75,000 judicial records.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Minister Majhi emphasized the international recognition of the Indian judiciary and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing financial, administrative, and technological support for the centre.

Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, in his inaugural address, highlighted the significance of the centre. “It will preserve many old legal documents of Odisha and serve as a valuable resource for legal luminaries, lawyers, researchers, and students,” he said.

The archives also house historical case records from when Odisha fell under the jurisdictions of the High Courts of Calcutta (1862–1912), Patna (1912–1948), and Madras (for the southern parts of the state). Additionally, it includes records from the erstwhile princely states’ high courts before the establishment of the Orissa High Court in 1948.

The Centre for Judicial Archives is expected to play a pivotal role in preserving Odisha’s rich legal history and ensuring access to it for future generations.