The refurbished Museum of Justice established by the Orissa High Court inside the Barabati Quila (Fort) in Cuttack was opened to the public on Friday in the presence of Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar and the High Court Judges. On February 25, 2023, Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Odisha, inaugurated the Museum.
To advise the High Court on the contents of the proposed Museum of Justice, a consultative committee of historians, conservation experts, and legal experts had been formed.
Dr. Justice A.K. Misra, retired Judge, Orissa High Court; A.B. Tripathy, retired IPS; B.B. Mishra, retired IPS; Dr. Nivedita Mohanty, Historian; A.B. Ota, Director, Tribal Museum; Sanjib Chandra Hota, retired IPS; Prof. Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik; Bhabani Shankar Chayani, Collector, Cuttack and Mallika Mitra, Director, INTACH were the members of the consultative committee.
The Museum’s concept and contents were determined and organised with the help of the Consultative Committee. The Museum now includes a “theme pavilion” and seven galleries highlighting various stages and aspects of the Odisha judiciary. There is also provision for an audio-visual room, a library, and a souvenir shop.
On the occasion of the Museum’s public opening, a function was held in its premises to recognise the contributions of the members of the consultative committee, at which the Chief Justice and the Judges of the High Court felicitated them.
Chief Justice Muralidhar praised the Consultative Committee members for their assistance in shaping the Museum, as well as the efforts of INTACH, Piloo Mody College of Architecture, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), and the Works Department.
The Chief Justice stated that the people of Odisha will find their roots and connections to history at the Museum of Justice because it is a place of reflection and introspection where one can connect to the larger past. He also stated that Odisha is rich in culture, tradition, and art, and that its people have a deep sense of history and culture ingrained in them, making Odisha a lovable place for all.
The Chief Justice further added that the Museum of Justice displays a glimpse of Odisha’s richness. The Chief Justice formally announced the Museum’s public opening.
The visiting hours would be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all days except Monday, and visitors would be charged nothing for the first few months.
