lawyers closed offices and bank demanding high court bench

Normal life was out of gear in Sambalpur, following the agitation of the lawyers in support to their demand of high court bench issue on Friday and Saturday. Apart from judicial establishments, government offices, commercial banks and financial institutions and central government offices including post office and telecom were remained closed because of the picketing of the lawyers. How over looking to the agitation, heavy police arrangement was taken place in various places of the town but no untoward incidents reported during the agitation.

“It was totally peaceful and we feel happy that apart from lawyers, general public and social activists had also participated in out agitation to make it successful”, general Secretary of the Bar Association, Chitta Ranjan Panda told According to Panda, lawyers of western Orissa have been demanding a permanent bench of Orissa high court since a long time. The lawyers are demanding the establishment of high court in western Orissa and it is the duty of the government to select the suitable place and to establish it immediately. “But shifting the responsibility on lawyer of the region, government wants to play divide and rule with us. we warn the government to take immediate step to establish it other wise people of the region know how to react”, Panda told.

Lawyers assembled at Nelson Mandela Chowck of Sambalpur and obstructed the way of judicial magistrates while they were going to the courts. The magistrates went back following the protest of the lawyers. They also locked the gates of various government offices including office of Collector and RDC and did not allow the officials to enter the respective offices. The lawyers were also blocked the banks and financial institutions of the town. Lawyers of other part including Bargarh observed cease works and obstructed judicial magistrates to enter the courts.

“The agitation was passed on peacefully. Several police forces were deployed to maintain law and order. How ever no untoward incident was reported so far”, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sambalpur) Dinabandhu Patel told.

Sources said, the lawyers of western Orissa have decided to close all government offices and banks and financial institution on 3 working days of each months. The lawyers of the region are agitating since a long time under the banner of Western Orissa all Bar associations. A central action committee (CAC) has been formed to regulate the agitation

It may be informed that the lawyers have closed down judicial offices on Thursday (28th January) but on following two days they closed down all government offices and banks through picketing in front of the the respective offices. besides few minor incidents the agitation remained peaceful. how over people especially from business community faced severe difficulties following shutting down of the financial establishments. "we understand the plight of the people So we warned the government to take immediate step for establishment of the high court bench in western Orissa before the situation slips from the hand of the government' , President of the Bar Pradeep Bohidar told.

“A meeting of CAC is scheduled to be held on Sunday where the future course of action of the agitation will be decided. Since many social organizations and individuals have requested us to involve in the separate state movement and not to wastage time on high court bench issue, the meeting will take a crucial decision on it”, senior member of the CAC and lawyer of Sambalpur Bar told.