Western Odisha lawyers protest

The Pioneer, July 20, 2010
PNS | Sambalpur

The Sambalpur District Bar Association (SDBA) and all others in western Odisha have expressed sharp reaction over the statement of High Court and Cuttack Bar association on the promise of the Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily for establishing a High Court bench in Sambalpur.

“It is unfortunate that the High Court Bar Association protested the statement of Moily, who has rather deeply realised the sentiment of the people of a vast part of the State,” reacted president and secretary of SDBA Niranjan Tripathy and Dillip Bisi and other lawyers.

“Such negative mindset of High Court Bar Association will rather increase further regionalis and the strengthen people who want division of the State,” they warned. All other bar associations of western Odisha including Bargarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh and Kalahandi have also come forward with similar statements and, in strong words, they condemn the activity of the High Court Bar Association and the incident of boycotting courts on Monday.

The Sambalpur Bar association has further decided to observe Tuesday as ‘Thanks Giving Day’ to Moily, for his favourable consideration to this popular demand of western Odisha people, the advocates inform.

“It is a good gesture that Government of India is going to decentralise judiciary for benefit of poor. Instead of welcoming such a novel step, it is highly unfortunate if any organization protest it and Sambalpur Bar will not just be a mute spectator to it,” the SDBA warned during its general body meeting here.

The bar association further demanded to shift the High Court to the State capital at Bhubaneswar with immediate effect since all the High Courts of the country are situated in State Capital except Odisha.