Special Camp Court Clears 142 Pending Urban Governance Appeals In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: In a move aimed at reducing pendency in urban governance-related cases and ensuring quicker grievance redressal, the Housing & Urban Development Department on Saturday organized a Special Camp Court at UNNATI Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

The initiative was held under the leadership of Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee to expedite the disposal of appeals filed under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982, and strengthen citizen-centric governance.

Serving as the designated Appellate Authority for matters relating to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Padhee personally presided over the proceedings and reviewed a large number of pending cases during the day-long session.

During the special hearing, as many as 142 appeal cases were heard and disposed of. Most of the cases involved appeals filed by citizens challenging orders issued by the BDA and BMC under the provisions of the ODA Act. The disposal of such a large number of cases in a single sitting is expected to provide timely relief to citizens and significantly reduce the backlog of pending appeals.

Officials said the Camp Court was conceived as part of the Department’s broader efforts to make governance more transparent, responsive and accessible. The initiative offered citizens an effective platform to seek redressal of grievances while ensuring fair and timely consideration of their appeals.

The Department has also undertaken measures to strengthen the appellate system by designating senior officers, including Special Secretaries and Additional Secretaries, as Appellate Authorities for similar matters. The decentralized arrangement is expected to accelerate case disposal and improve service delivery across urban local bodies and development authorities.

The Special Camp Court witnessed active participation from citizens and stakeholders, receiving a positive response for its prompt and efficient approach. Officials stated that similar camps would be conducted in a phased and time-bound manner in the future to clear pending cases and further enhance public confidence in urban governance institutions.