Judicial archives are crucial for preserving legal documents, records & artifacts, ensuring that Odisha’s legal heritage endures
OdishaPlus Bureau
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the first Centre for Judicial Archives in the country on Saturday, with Orissa High Court Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh present. Majhi expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice and the judges, stating that the center’s creation reflects a shared dedication to safeguarding the judiciary’s rich history for future generations.
He noted that the judicial archives are crucial for preserving legal documents, records, and artifacts, ensuring that Odisha’s legal heritage endures. Additionally, it will serve as a valuable resource for legal researchers, students, and historians, extending its impact beyond just the justice system.
Majhi reiterated his commitment to judicial reform, promising that the government will enhance judicial infrastructure, integrate technology into the legal framework, and ensure justice is accessible to everyone. The Centre was built for Rs 38 crore. Chief Justice Singh called the Centre for Judicial Archives a fitting honor for Cuttack, the judicial capital of Odisha, stating, “This is a significant step in our efforts to protect and preserve the history of legal proceedings, which is vital for understanding the development of the legal system in the state.”
He mentioned that the current judicial system in Odisha began during the rule of the English East India Company in various stages in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The high court and district courts in Odisha have millions of important records that require proper care and preservation, as they are not covered by the Government Archival Policy Resolution of 1972 or the Public Records Act of 1993. Because these records are not sent to government archives for permanent storage, many have suffered from neglect and poor maintenance, he explained.
“To address this issue, the Orissa High Court has taken a significant step by establishing a judicial archive to protect the delicate records of both the high court and district courts,” he stated.
Justice SK Panigrahi, chairman of the Record Room Digitisation Centre Committee at the Orissa High Court, noted that the Centre for Judicial Archives has preserved nearly 75,000 fragile judicial records from before 1950. Among these, 4,132 files with 84,888 sheets have been scientifically conserved. He pointed out that this initiative arose from finding valuable records from the 19th and early 20th centuries in Odisha’s courts, written in English, Odia, Persian, Telugu, Hindi, and Bengali.
“These documents are not merely artifacts; they are treasures that can help reconstruct the judicial and legal history of Odisha,” Justice Panigrahi added.
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