Bhubaneswar: Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has advised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to consult the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court for setting up permanent benches in western and southern parts of the state.

"It is imperative that the Chief Justice of the High Court is consulted and recommendations of the Orissa High Court obtained before setting up any Bench(es) of the High Court in the state," said Prasad in a letter to the Chief Minister released to the media on Monday.