The then Bengal Presidency was a vast province including present day Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. It was difficult to administratively manage such a vast area, inhabited by people speaking different languages and having different traditions. Administrative exigencies required separation of such areas which originally did not form part of Bengal. So, the new province of Bihar and Orissa was formed on 22 March 1912. However, the said new province of Bihar and Orissa was under the jurisdiction of the Calcutta High Court.
On 9 February 1916, in exercise of the powers under Section 113 of the Government of India Act, 1915, the King of the United Kingdom issued letters of patent constituting the High Court of Patna. Odisha was placed under the jurisdiction of Patna High Court. Although, on 18 May 1916, Circuit Court of Patna High Court for Odisha held its first sitting at Cuttack.
On 1 April 1936 Odisha was made a separate province but no separate High Court was provided for it. The Government of India agreed to create a new High Court, and for that purpose the Government of India issued the Orissa High Court Order, 1948, under the Section 229(1) of the Government of India Act, 1935, on 30 April 1948. Finally, on 26 July 1948, Orissa High Court was formally inaugurated.[citation needed]
In an innovative effort, Museum of Justice has been established at Quila Fort, Cuttack inside the historic compound of Barabati Quila (fort), Cuttack.[1]
List of sitting judges in Orissa High Court (Seniority Wise)