Odisha lawyers demand HC benches across the state

Times of India, Aug 24, 2013
HUBANESWAR: Taking their cue from continuing agitation in Sambalpur and adjoining districts, lawyers from other parts of Odisha have raised demands for high court bench in theirrespective areas.

The development coincided with lawyers in Cuttack observing a day's strike on Friday, opposing establishment of HC bench anywhere in the state.

"Cases piling up in high court can be cleared through appointment of more judges and modernisation of courts. Separate benches in different regions are no solution to the problem. The Orissa high court has 15 judges against the sanctioned strength of 22. Lawyers from all over the state should mount pressure on the government to appoint more judges instead of demanding benches in their areas," said secretary of high court bar association Janmejaya Katakia. Members of Cuttack criminal court bar association, civil bar association, tax bar association and board of revenue bar association also participated in Friday's ceasework agitation.

Lawyers in Rourkela on Friday said they want a HC bench in the Steel City and have nothing to do with their counterparts in Sambalpur. "Like the Balangir bar association, we have been agitating separately for a bench in Rourkela," said Rourkela bar association (RBA) secretary, Sadananda Sahu. He took strong exception to chief minister Naveen Patnaik not inviting them to Saturday's scheduled discussion in Bhubaneswar on the issue. "The decision of central action committee (CAC) is not binding on us nor shall we accept the government's decision on the issue," said RBA president Ramesh Bal.

Reports from Bhawanipatna said lawyers and leaders of political parties on Friday staged demonstration there, demanding a bench in Kalahandi. They threatened to boycott urban polls if the state government fails to meet their demand. "We will boycott the municipality elections and no candidate would further file nomination paper," said Congress leader Santosh Mund. President of Kalahandi bar association Daitari Pradhan told mediapersons that lawyers would boycott the polls as well. Among others, BJD leader Balabhadra Majhi, Bhawanipatna Congress MLA Dushmanta Nayak and BJP district president Debendra Mohanty joined the stir. Lawyers and political parties in Kesinga and Junagarh NACs announced to boycott the urban elections too.

Demand for a bench has also been received from Berhampur where lawyers, boycotting courts for the last four days, on Friday announced to intensify their agitation. "We have convened a meeting on Monday to decide the future course of action on our long-standing demand," said secretary of Ganjam bar association Sitanshu Kumar Panda. He said over 30% cases pending in the high court are from southern Odisha. Panda added lawyers had earlier boycotted courts for about five months in 2008 and called Berhampur bandh on several occasions over the demand. "Berhampur is suitable in every respect for establishment of a HC bench," the association maintained.