In a significant step towards improving citizen-centric governance and ensuring timely justice, the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department organized a Special Camp Court at UNNATI Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

The initiative was undertaken to expedite the disposal of appeal cases filed under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982, and reduce the backlog of pending cases.

Usha Padhee Presides Over Proceedings

The Camp Court was convened under the leadership of Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department. As the designated Appellate Authority for matters related to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), she personally reviewed and heard a large number of pending appeals during the day-long session.

142 Cases Disposed of in a Single Day

A total of 142 appeal cases were heard and disposed of during the Special Camp Court. Most of the cases involved appeals filed by citizens against orders issued by BDA and BMC under the provisions of the ODA Act.

The successful disposal of such a large number of cases in a single day is expected to provide relief to citizens awaiting resolution of their grievances and contribute to reducing case pendency.

Strengthening Transparency and Accountability

Officials stated that the initiative reflects the Department’s commitment to transparent, responsive, and accessible governance. By offering citizens an effective platform to challenge administrative decisions and seek redressal of grievances, the Camp Court reinforced the principles of fairness, accountability, and due process.

Decentralized Appellate System to Speed Up Case Disposal

As part of broader reforms, the state government has recently designated senior officers, including Special Secretaries and Additional Secretaries, as Appellate Authorities for similar cases. This decentralized mechanism is expected to further accelerate the disposal of appeals and improve service delivery in urban areas.

Positive Response from Citizens

The Special Camp Court received an encouraging response from citizens and stakeholders. The Housing & Urban Development Department has announced plans to continue such initiatives in a phased and time-bound manner to clear pending cases and strengthen public confidence in urban governance institutions.

The move is being seen as an important step toward making governance more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly across Odisha.

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