Odisha H&UD Department Launches Camp Court to Expedite Justice

This initiative, led by Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department of Odisha, aims to expedite the resolution of appeal cases under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act of 1982.

The Camp Court session was organised under the direct guidance of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, with the clear objective of fostering a citizen-first approach to governance.

Principal Secy Padhee, serving as the designated appellate authority for cases involving the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), presided over the day-long session.

During the hearings, a total of 140 cases were successfully resolved, significantly impacting the backlog of over 400 pending appeals. These cases involved citizens challenging various orders issued by the BDA and BMC under the provisions of the ODA Act.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the appellate mechanism and speed up case resolution. Recently, the government has appointed additional senior officers, including Special Secretaries and Additional Secretaries, as appellate authorities for similar matters. This decentralised approach is expected to enhance operational efficiency and reduce case pendency.

The Camp Court initiative has been well received by the public, reflecting the Housing and Urban Development Department’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability. By providing a platform for citizens to challenge administrative decisions that may not adhere to due process or public interest, the initiative upholds the principles of justice and accessibility.

The department is committed to continuing the Camp Court sessions in future phases, to systematically clear the remaining cases promptly.