The dawn to dusk bandh called by the Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Association (AWOBA) threw normal life out of gear on Wednesday.
The bandh was called by agitating lawyers demanding permanent bench of the High Court in the region and a complete and comprehensive proposal by the State Government to the Union Government in this regard. No untoward incident was reported during the bandh which saw Government offices, educational and financial institutions shutting down for the day. Public transport and movement of heavy vehicles too was hit as lawyers picketed at strategic locations and paralysed vehicular movement on NHs.
The bandh also disrupted railway services with protestors squatting on the track. As declared by the CAC, essential services and examinations were exempted from the bandh. Similar reports were received from Bargarh, Jharsugdua, Deogarh, Sonepur and Boudh districts.
The bandh call did not have much impact in Nuapada and Balangir.
The Odisha Government had written to Union Law Ministry and sought concurrence for establishment of High Court bench in Western and Southern Odisha in September last year followed by another letter on February 13. However, the Union Law Ministry had sought a complete and comprehensive proposal over the matter which has not yet been submitted by the State Government.
Rourkela: The members of the Rourkela Bar Association, one of the largest Bars in the State, with support of various political parties picketed at Vedvyas, Panposh, Uditnagar, Bisra Square, Chhend Colony, Aambagan and Bondamunda. Central and State Government offices, courts and commercial establishments remained closed while commercial vehicles remained off the roads.
RBA president Ramesh Bal said the State Government should immediately recommend to the Centre to set up the bench at Rourkela as it is the most suitable location in Western Odisha and fulfils majority of the critera.
Members of the Sundargarh District Bar Association (SDBA) also took to the streets in Sundargarh district headquarters town to close courts, Government offices, shops and market places while commercial vehicles went off the roads. The bandh was total in adjacent town of Rajgangpur while at the Bonai sub-divisional headquarters, courts and offices were closed but shops remained open.
Jharsuguda: Though the bandh had an impact on normal life, it did not affect functioning of industries and coal mine of MCL. Traders in Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar and Belpahar downed their shutters in support of the HC bench demand.
No Impact in Kalahandi
Bhawanipatna: Kalahandi lawyers did not extend their support to the bandh call. President of Kalahandi Bar Association Daitary Pradhan said Kalahandi lawyers do not support their counterparts in Sambalpur over the issue. The HC bench should be established in Kalahandi considering its location in the KBK region, backwardness and distance from the HC in Cuttack, he added.
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