Lawyers To Launch Cease-Work Agitation Across Odisha Till September 12

Cuttack: Intensifying their ongoing agitation, Odisha Lawyers’ Association on Saturday announced its decision to launch cease-work agitation across the state till September 12.

Following a meeting, High Court Bar Association secretary Satyabrat Mohanty said, “Presidents and secretaries of different bar associations across the state had participated in the meeting and prepared strategies to intensify the ongoing protest. It has been decided that a committee will be formed to meet the Chief Minister, Law Minister and Chief Justice to apprise them of our demand and seek their intervention to fulfill the same.”

The Orissa High Court had on September 4 ordered a Crime Branch (CB) investigation into the ongoing tussle between police personnel and lawyers following the attack on a lawyer on August 28.

Hearing the two petitions filed by Orissa High Court Bar Association and Nationalist Lawyers’ Association, the High Court directed the state investigating agency to conduct a thorough probe into the incident to reveal the facts.

Both the associations had prayed to the court for an inquiry by a sitting judge and arrest the erring police personnel.

According to sources, a DSP-rank officer will investigate the incident. The next hearing of the case will be held on Monday.

On September 4, members of the Orissa High Court Bar Association had decided to continue their ongoing strike to protest against the alleged assault on a lawyer at Nua Bazaar here. The future course of action will be decided after another meeting scheduled to be convened on September 5, members said.

On August 30, members of the association had resorted to a cease-work stir protesting against the August 28 incident.

The Commissionerate Police had suspended three personnel, including two constables and a havaldar, for excesses the same day.

Members of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association had also staged a road blockade by burning tyres in front of the SDJM court here, disrupting vehicular movement on Bhubaneswar-Puri Road.