Home Department plays a key role in State Administration. It is the bedrock of Police Administration. This Department oversees the maintenance of law and order; prevention and control of crimes; prosecution of criminals besides dealing with Fire Services and Prisons Administration. It is the nodal Department so far as State Secretariat Service is concerned. The administration of various cadres of the State Secretariat service, like Common Cadre of Assistants, Typists, Cadres of Steno Graphers / Personal Assistants/Private Secretaries and O.S.S. Officers are assigned to Home Department. Apart from these, Civil Defence and Home Guards Services are also being looked after in Home Department. It is closely connected with the conduct of elections to Parliament, and State Legislatures. It keeps a close liaison with Defence Services for Military and Civil Co-operation and for setting up of Defence Projects in the State. The responsibility of Home Department is also to properly maintain the protocol and to oversee management of State Guest House at Bhubaneswar, Orissa Bhawan and Orissa Niwas at New-Delhi and Utkal Bhawan at Kolkata.