“Now or never”: Lawyers ready to renew stir over HC bench in western Odisha

Sambalpur: Lawyers across Western Odisha have decided to renew their stir by intensifying protest from November 19 over establishment of a permanent High Court bench in the region.

The Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Association (AWOBA) took a decision in this regard here today.

Announcing about their protest plans in a press meet here, CAC Convenor Ashok Dash said the association members would resort to picketing in front of all state and central government offices in the western Odisha from November 19 to 30.

The association also threatened that it will stage a 48-hour protest if the government fails to fulfill the demand. ““It has been decided to give a 48-hour bandh call in the Western Odisha districts from November 29 if the demand of the association is not met by November 28,” Dash added.

A 15-member delegation of CAC had called on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat on August 6 over the demand. Later, the Chief Minister wrote a letter to the Union Government for establishment of the HC Benches in Western and Southern Odisha on September 5.

In response to the letter, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wrote to the Chief Minister on September 10 asking the State Government to send a comprehensive proposal with the consent of the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court for setting up the HC Benches.