Odisha Launches Special Camp Court in Bhubaneswar to Expedite Citizen Appeals under ODA Act

Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards ensuring citizen-centric governance and timely justice delivery, the Housing and Urban Development Department of Odisha today organized a Special Camp Court at UNNATI Bhawan, Bhubaneswar. The day-long session was presided over by Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary to Government, and aimed at fast-tracking the disposal of pending appeal cases filed under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982.

The initiative follows the directives of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who has consistently emphasized the need for transparent and accountable governance with a strong focus on citizen grievances.

As the designated appellate authority for matters related to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Padhee took up 200 appeal cases during the session — part of a larger backlog of over 800 pending cases. These appeals largely stem from citizens contesting administrative orders passed by the concerned urban authorities.

Speaking on the occasion, officials reiterated the government’s commitment to a decentralized and responsive grievance redressal mechanism. In a bid to strengthen the appellate framework, the state government has recently authorized senior officers — including the Director of Municipal Administration, Special Secretaries, and Additional Secretaries — as appellate authorities for various regions under the ODA Act. This move is aimed at reducing pendency and ensuring speedy, region-specific resolution of cases.

“This initiative reflects our dedication to building a transparent and citizen-first urban governance system,” said a department spokesperson. “We want to ensure that individuals affected by administrative decisions have a fair and accessible platform to seek redress.”

The Camp Court model, which brings appellate hearings closer to citizens in a structured and time-bound manner, has been welcomed by the public. The positive response has prompted the department to plan additional phases of such courts to clear the remaining backlog and institutionalize a faster appeal process.