Several positions for judges lie vacant across the country

One must have come across the legal maxim - Justice delayed is justice denied. In present time, huge number of vacancies are found lie vacant in different High courts and District Courts across the country.

As of December 1, 2012, the working strength of the High Court judges was 613 as against the sanctioned strength of 895 judges. This reflects a 32% vacancy of judges across various High Courts in the country.

The highest number of vacancies is in the Allahabad High Court with a working strength of 86 judges against the sanctioned strength of 160 judges (i.e. vacancy of 74 judges).

The situation is not much better at the subordinate level. As on September 30, 2011, the sanctioned strength of judges at the subordinate level was 18,123 judges as against a working strength of 14,287 judges (i.e. 21% vacancy).

The highest vacancy is in Gujarat with 794 vacancies of judges, followed by Bihar with 690 vacancies.

Hence the proverb, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’, still holds well. The legal department is requested herewith to fulfill the posts at the earliest in the interest of justice.

From the set of Sambalpuri (Indian) movie 'Alar'

Mastermind of Chandanbhati double murder surrenders in Balangir

Jayaprakash Pati, the alleged mastermind in the Chandanbhati double murder case surrendered at the SDJM court in Balangir on Wednesday. The gruesome murders had taken place on 15 January 2013 night and since then Pati was absconding. His bail plea was rejected.

In this case, earlier Balangir Sadar Police had arrested Damodar Patel, the samiti member from Kusmel, Adikanda Sahu and Yuvraj Bhoi. As per reports, they had admitted in their statements before the Police that they were abetted by the Vice-Chairman of Loisingha block, the main accused Pati to execute the murders.

It is heard that earlier the victim and the accused had a fight which perhaps led to the happening of the crime. The two deceased Dibyajyoti Panigrahi and his associate Daktar Ghibela were allegedly murdered when they were returning on a bike to their place at Sindurbahal after attending a feast in the night of 15^th January when they were attacked and killed near the Chandanbhati Bridge, around 10 km away from the Dist Head quarter Balangir.

Foundation stone laid for alternative water supply to Balangir

Foundation Stone for Water Supply in Balangir

  Keeping in view the chronic water scarcity problem in Balangir, Odisha government has taken step to supply water to the town from an alternative source from river Tel. The foundation stone was laid in this context by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Gandhi Nagar in Balangir on 29^th January 13.

It should be noted that while during the pre-independence days Balangir was enjoying ample water for drinking purpose, industry and agriculture, the place has turned in to a no water zone within these years. The economy of the area is mainly regulated by agriculture and water is the most essential element for harvesting. Accordingly, the Lower Suktel project has been planned since the last century but it has not been completed though more than 10 years have been passed meanwhile. While some people describe the reason of this long delay to be political hostility, the result has not been availed so far.

Now, the ruling BJD government has laid foundation for an alternative source to supply water to the town. Yet, it is now time to wait and see how far the project will be initiated and finished soon to provide water to the town and to solve the chronic problem.

Naveen Pattanaik’s visit to Balangir on 29th January 13

Odisha C M Naveen Pattanaik

As per an information received from the Balangir District administration, the Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Pattanaik is coming to the district on 29^th January 13. He will inaugurate some projects during this visit as per the following schedule.

11.55 A.M.: Arrival at the R.N. Singhdeo Sports Complex Helipad in Balangir and then address to the gathering.

12.55 P.M.: He will lay the foundation stone for 125 bedded M.C.H. Centre at the Dist. H.Q. Hospital.

01.15 P.M.: He will inaugurate B.N.R.G.S.K. Building at Balangir block campus.

01.25 P.M.: He will lay foundation stone for overhead tank near circuit house.

02.25 P.M.: Arrival at the Ghagurli Helipad under Belpada Block. He will then inaugurate the Bridge over Lanth River near Parlimar and will distribute assets and benefits to beneficiaries under various schemes.

Jennifer Lopez in a Pritam Panda Designed Outfit

In his voyage of dressing the world’s most stunning ladies to outfitting sensuous supermodels, Pritam Panda, the young but paramount fashion designer from Odisha, has achieved another big triumph after designing for the world’s most acclaimed Pop Star Jennifer Lopez.

International Pop star and Hollywood Diva J. Lo slips into a Pritam Panda Haute Couture 2013 especially custom made for her World Tour Concert. The Diva appeared in a red Swarovski embellished single piece body suit that turned heads on in the crowd.

The suite was specially custom made for the diva a month back to her concert. Panda has been commissioned to design similar concert suits for the diva, by JLo's manager who generally does all the talking for her costumes and styling.

The four costumes have been specially hand crafted in India with Swarovski crystals to suit the body contours of the International pop star.

The Diva had an eye on few of Panda's designs at the Paris Fashion week as well as on his designs for the legendary country singer Dolly Parton in early 2012 as well, as she had spotted few of this Indian designer's haute couture and pret lines at the Harrods and Selfridges in UK, and soon Panda was online cellular for prolonged discussions with J Lo's manager, Mom and the team that handles her styling and appearance skills in Los Angeles, regarding the stars look for her year ending concerts in Toronto and Dubai.

Pritam Panda is a friend of mine and personally known to me, who has sent me the news in a mail that authorizes me to publish this post.

Sambalpuri Film 'Sala Budha' in Balangir

Sabyasachi Mohapatra directed and Mahapatra Movie Magic Pvt. Ltd presented ‘Sala Budha’ is the third film in Sambalpuri dialect after ‘Bhukha’ and ‘Ulgulan’. 

Premiere show of the film was held on 30^th November 2012 at Town Hall Balangir where a hoard of talented and renowned artistes joined at the venue to witness the show as well as to observe the silver jubilee celebration of the first ever Sambalpuri movie ‘Bhukha’ made 25 years back by the same director.

While the director had highlighted the plight of the folk drum beaters of the western Odisha in his earlier Sambalpuri movie ‘Bhukha’, this time he has tried to present plight of the elderly persons in the society through a simple story set in a village of pre-independent western Odisha. The story of ‘Sala Budha’ or ‘The stupid Old man’ revolves around an old village head, the Sarpanch of a village, who tries his best to take care of the subjects at any cost. The film has successfully depicted the strong relationship of the earlier days in the villages of western Odisha and the innocence, simplicity and righteousness of the Old man, who finally gets his reward from the King.

The story of the film seems much interesting and contains a lot of elements to make the audience sit tight throughout the film. Apart from the main story, many folksy culture and practices have been exhibited in the film, such as the ‘Ghubukudu’, ‘Mudtupaa’, ‘Haldimakha’ during the marriage, exchanging teasing words during the marriage for fun and beyond that the kindness of the village women, who even nourishes a beggar at the night.

We wish all the best to the film and hope that ‘Sala Budha’ should grab some awards in the international Film festivals. Kudos to the director and the whole unit of ‘Sala Budha’.

Artists – Atal Bihari Panda (The old man), Tapaswini Guru ( Wife of the Old man), Netranand Barik, Prithwiraj Nayak (The King), Bijaya Tripathy (The royal cook), Ghasiram Mishra (The village priest), Ratan Meher, Sobha Sinha, Bhanumati Dash (first female theatre artist of Balangir), Gadadhar Barik (the bad man), Purusottam Mishra, Pradyumn Sahu, Pabitra Dansena,

Music – Ramesh Mahanand

Cinematography – Aum Prakash Mahapatra

Producer – Sushant Mahapatra, Co-producer – B. Chintu Mahapatra

Written By – Sri Kapileswar Prasad Mahapatra

Dialogue – Atal Bihari Panda

(If anybody knows more about any cast and crew of the movie and not mentioned here, please convey it in the comment box so that it can be updated)