Orissa High Court faces severe judge shortage with 1.72 lakh pending cases

The Orissa High Court is grappling with a critical shortage of judges, with only 17 serving against a sanctioned strength of 33. This has left around 1.72 lakh cases pending, roughly one judge for every 10,000 cases, according to odishatv.in.

The Orissa High Court Bar Association has demanded immediate appointments, warning that the situation could worsen. Two judges are set to retire by November, which could reduce the strength to 13. The association also noted that no Odia judge has been appointed to the Supreme Court since 2018, raising concerns about future representation at the top court.

The Bar Association plans to submit a memorandum to the President, Chief Justice of India, and the Supreme Court Collegium. It has warned of peaceful protests if no action is taken. Lawyers have also called for strengthening judicial infrastructure to ensure timely justice.