HC sets new date to hear PIL on implementing libraries Act
Cuttack:
Orissa high court
has adjourned hearing on the PIL seeking its intervention for implementation of the Odisha Public Libraries Act, 2001 and the Odisha Public Libraries Rules, 2016, "in letter and spirit", to June 18.High court lawyer Prabir Kumar Das had filed a PIL on March 24 alleging inaction of the state govt in creation of Odisha Public Libraries Council, Odisha Public Libraries Authority, Odisha Public Library Fund and Public Library Committees in each of the 30 districts, as envisaged in the Act.According to the petition, Odisha Public Libraries Act, 2001 was enacted for establishment of a network of public libraries in the state and to maintain, regulate, regulate and integrate them to provide a comprehensive rural and urban library service in the state.The petition sought the court's intervention for filling up the vacancies in all the existing public libraries, including the Harekrushna Mahtab State Library, where 48 of the 58 posts are lying vacant.When the petition was first taken up on April 5, the HC directed the govt to file a response to the PIL by May 7.
But when the petition came up on Wednesday, additional standing counsel Aishwarya Dash, appearing on behalf of the govt, submitted that she needs "more time to comprehend and collect all the relevant papers so that the decision of the govt in this regard can be communicated to the court with clarity and precision."Allowing it, the bench of Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman said, "On her prayer, let the matter be listed on June 18, 2025."
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