Lawyers Defy SC Order; Vow To Continue Strike Till October 3

Cuttack: A day after the Supreme Court directed the agitating lawyers to withdraw their ongoing cease-work agitation and join duty, members of the High Court Bar Association on Friday announced its decision to continue strike till October 3.

“We have decided not to accept the order of the Supreme Court to end our strike as the apex court did not give a chance to keep our stand before it. The agitation will continue and further course of action in this regard will be taken in another meeting scheduled to be held on October 3,” Orissa High Court Bar Association secretary Satyabrat Mohanty said after a meeting.

Earlier this morning, the agitating lawyers had locked up the main gate of the Orissa High Court seeking immediate fulfillment of their demand. They also burnt the effigies of Chief Justices of Supreme Court and the High Court.

The apex court had on Thursday asked the agitating lawyers to withdraw their ongoing strike and also directed the Orissa High Court Bar Association and other connected associations to resume court work.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in this regard, the top court ordered the Director General of Police (DGP) Rajendra Prasad Sharma to transfer the investigation pertaining to the case to the Crime Branch, Inspector General of Police.

The court further said that the investigation shall be under the charge of the Inspector General of Police and “we are sure, he shall conduct the investigation with all sincerity”.

The agitating lawyers had on Wednesday decided to continue their cease-work strike over police excesses.