The Museum of Justice with refurbished look and showcasing priceless judicial documents, records and history of the hoary past, was inaugurated inside the Barabati Quila, Cuttack on Saturday.
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal inaugurated the museum in the presence of Chief Justice Dr S Muralidhar and the Judges of the Orissa High Court. Former Chief Justice of India Justice GB Patnaik, former Judges of the High Court, Advocate General, Bar members and senior Government officials attended the inaugural function.
“History has not only been honoured but also been created through the Museum of Justice. The Record Rooms of the High Court and District Courts containing old records dating back to the 19th Century were the real trigger behind the thought to rejuvenate the High Court Museum as the Museum of Justice,” Chief Justice Dr S Muralidhar said
So many stories of Odisha- the stories of freedom fighters, famous personalities and events lay hidden in these records and the High Court has decided to showcase them in the Museum of Justice and to present before the public the evolution of the legal system of Odisha, he said.
The Museum will reflect not only the legal system of Odisha but also that of the entire country because Odisha mirrors what is happening elsewhere. The Museum of Justice would be a place of learning, research, co-mingling and teaching, Chief Justice Dr Muralidhar said.
The Museum of Justice is a matter of pride for the entire country. There is the need for awareness in every action for upholding righteousness and complimented the judiciary for upholding righteousness in true sense, Governor Ganeshi Lal said while appreciating the initiative.
The first publication of the Museum of Justice was released in the inaugural function which contains information on the rejuvenation of the Museum. After the inaugural function the students visited the galleries of the Museum and were found excited. Sharing their experience the students said that they found the galleries on the Tribal Justice System, the Mock Courtroom and the Judgments interesting and educative.
The ‘Orissa High Court Museum’ was established in the heritage residential building of the Chief Justice in Barabati Quila, Cuttack on 12 October, 2017. Documents relating to the High Court’s establishment, old books and judgement, antique objects collected from various district courts and rare photographs were displayed for public view.
Prior to the establishment of the Orissa High Court in 1948, the Odisha province was within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Calcutta from 1862 to 1912 and the High Court of Patna from 1912 to 1948.
The southern part of the province was within the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court. Therefore, the repository of case records of the High Court of Orissa includes the old judicial records of the three High Courts: at Calcutta, Patna and Madras. They also include records belonging to erstwhile High Courts of the princely states of Odisha.