Western Odisha Courts Cease Work Over HC Bench

Sambalpur: To intensify the agitation for a permanent High Court bench, cease work in all courts of western Odisha began on Monday.

Talking to mediapersons here, chief convener of the Central Action Committee of all bar associations of western Odisha, Ashok Das, said the cease-work stir will continue till September 26.

He said the committee has decided to have a 5-minute discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Jharsuguda on September 22.

A total of 37 lawyers’ associations of 10 western Odisha districts are the members of the Central Action Committee.

The committee in a meeting in Jharsuguda on September 10 had decided to close down all the courts in the region from September 17 to 26 to press for its demand.

The Centre has asked the state government to furnish details on the established procedures for the setting up two permanent benches of the Orissa High Court in southern and western Odisha.

Notably, Union Law and Justice Minister Rabi Shankar Prasad in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on September 12 had asked him to discuss the matter with the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and identify the location and land required for the construction of the building of the two High Court benches and the residential area for judges.

He has also requested the Chief Minister to specify the jurisdiction of the two proposed benches and submit a proposal after finalising the details with the consent of the High Court Chief Justice so that the Centre can take the necessary steps.