Govt Offices In Sambalpur Open After Five Months

Sambalpur: Government offices which had remained closed since last five months due to the ongoing strike by the lawyers in the city over permanent High Court bench in Western Odisha demand, opened on Tuesday.

The decision to open the government offices was taken at the general body meeting of the Sambalpur District Bar Association on Monday evening.

Talking to the media here on Tuesday, a senior lawyer of the Sambalpur District Bar Association said that all government offices have been opened. He, however, said that the court work will remain closed as usual.

Notably, the Western Odisha Lawyers’ Association and the Sambalpur District Bar Association had begun an indefinite strike from September 5 last year, demanding a permanent HC bench in Western Odisha. As part of its agitation, the lawyers’ body had closed down the government offices in the city in phases. As a result, all government works had remained paralysed since then.

However, the lawyers’ body relented following the state government’s announcement that it has earmarked Rs 5 crore towards infrastructure for the High Court bench in its vote on account.

Besides, it also took note of the request made by several NGOs to civil societies to open the government offices.