Odisha Courtroom Vandalism: Licence Of All But 54 Lawyers Of Sambalpur Bar Restored

Sambalpur: Licences of all but 54 lawyers of Sambalpur district bar association, members of which were allegedly involved in Monday courtroom violence, have been restored by the Bar Council of India (BCI).

According to the BCI order, 54 lawyers, whose licences are still under suspension, have to furnish an explanation before the secretary on or before February 15, 2023, as to why the order of suspension passed against them should not be made absolute.

Further decision will be taken in the matter after consideration of the reply, said the order.

The association has 1,600 members. A total of 32 people, including 23 lawyers, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

A three-member fact-finding committee, consisting of senior advocate and co-chairman of BCI DP Dhal, senior advocate and member special committee, State Bar Council of Odisha, Manas Mahapatra and senior advocate Yashobanta Das, has been constituted to identify the instigators and it will submit its reports to BCI before January 15, 2023.

Meanwhile, the arrested layers have district judge court for bail after the pleas were rejected in the SDJM court on Friday.