Odisha launches camp court to speed up appeals under ODA Act
Bhubaneswar, Nov 1 (UNI) In a landmark step toward citizen-centric governance and timely justice delivery, the Odisha government today organized a special Camp Court to expedite appeal cases under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982.
The initiative, led by Principal Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee, was conducted under the direct guidance of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, reflecting the government’s commitment to a “citizen-first” approach.
Padhee, serving as the designated appellate authority for cases related to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), presided over the day-long session.
During the hearing, 140 appeal cases were resolved, significantly reducing the backlog of over 400 pending appeals. The cases primarily involved citizens challenging various orders issued by the BDA and BMC under the ODA Act.
This Camp Court forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen the appellate framework and accelerate case disposal.
To further decentralise and streamline the process, the government has recently appointed senior officers—including Special and Additional Secretaries—as appellate authorities for similar matters.
The initiative has been widely appreciated by the public for promoting transparency, fairness, and accountability in governance.
The department has announced plans to continue the Camp Court sessions in upcoming phases to systematically clear the remaining cases in a time-bound manner.
