HC Bench In Odisha: Lawyers Suspend Agitation After Crackdown

Sambalpur: Lawyers of western Odisha on Tuesday announced their decision to put on hold the protest demanding establishment of a permanent High Court bench at Sambalpur in view of the direction of the Supreme Court on the issue.

The decision to suspend the agitation was taken by the Central Action Committee of all Bar Associations of Western Odisha.

“Keeping in view the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Central Action Committee of all Bar Associations of Western Odisha decided to suspend the ongoing movement of strike,” the Central Action Committee said in a resolution.

Stating that the decision to suspend the protest was taken as a mark of respect towards the Supreme Court, bar association leaders said that they have full faith in the apex court.

Expressing the hope that the demand for establishment of a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in Sambalpur will be fulfilled, they said the lawyers have reposed faith in the Centre, state government and the High Court.

The lawyers’ decision came after a crackdown by police which saw arrest of at least 17 advocates for alleged vandalism of the chamber of a district judge during Monday’s ‘ Satyagarh’.

The police action came after after the Supreme Court on Monday rapped DGP Odisha and Sambalpur IG of Police for failing to handle lawyers’ strikes in the state.

In another development, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has suspended practice licence of a total of 43 advocates for 18 months, besides suspending all members of the district bar association till further orders.

The Supreme Court had taken a serious view of the agitation after it came to know that court works have been affected due to lawyers’ stir in the state. The bench also slapped notice on different district bar associations asking them to make their stand on the issue.

The apex court’s order came following a petition filed by the Orissa High Court over loss of working hours due to non-participation of members of different bar associations of the state in court proceedings.