THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MAY 30, 2026
In a significant initiative aimed at ensuring speedy justice and
strengthening citizen-centric governance, the Housing & Urban Development
(H&UD) Department on Saturday organized a Special Camp Court at UNNATI
Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, underscoring the Government’s commitment to responsive,
transparent and efficient public service delivery.
The Special Camp Court was convened under the leadership of Usha Padhee,
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, with
the objective of expediting the disposal of appeal cases filed under the Odisha
Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982.
As the designated Appellate Authority for matters relating to the
Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Bhubaneswar Municipal
Corporation (BMC), Padhee personally presided over the proceedings and
undertook a comprehensive review of a large number of pending appeals during
the day-long hearing.
A total of 142 appeal cases were heard and disposed of during the Special
Camp Court, marking a major milestone in reducing case pendency and ensuring
the timely delivery of justice to citizens. The cases primarily involved
appeals filed by individuals against orders issued by the BDA and BMC under
various provisions of the ODA Act.
The initiative reflects the Department’s unwavering commitment to making
governance more accessible, accountable and citizen-friendly. By creating an effective
platform for residents to seek redressal of grievances and challenge
administrative decisions, the Camp Court further strengthens the principles of
fairness, transparency, accountability and due process in urban governance.
As part of its ongoing efforts to bolster the appellate framework and
streamline dispute resolution mechanisms, the Government has recently
designated senior officers, including Special Secretaries and Additional
Secretaries, as Appellate Authorities for similar cases. This decentralized and
institutionalized approach is expected to significantly accelerate case
disposal, reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve service delivery across
urban areas of the State.
The Special Camp Court received an encouraging response from citizens and
stakeholders, who welcomed the initiative as an effective step towards faster
grievance redressal and improved governance outcomes. The Housing & Urban
Development Department has resolved to continue organizing such special
hearings in a phased and time-bound manner to clear pending cases, enhance
administrative efficiency and further strengthen public confidence in urban
governance institutions.
