Western Odisha lawyers to resume work from tomorrow

Sambalpur: Courts in western Odisha will function as usual from Monday as the Central Action Committee (CAC) of the Western Odisha Bar Associations today decided to call off their ‘No court, no hearing’ agitation. The bar associations were observing the agitation demanding establishment of a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha.

Convener of the Central Action Committee Ashok Das said respecting the Supreme Court’s directive, lawyers of the Western Odisha Bar Associations will participate in judicial work and court hearings from tomorrow.

In an affidavit, the committee prayed before the SC seeking its intervention to direct constitutional bodies and officials to take steps for setting up of a permanent HC bench in western Odisha within a stipulated time frame. The SC accepted the affidavit and fixed March 23 as the next date for a hearing, the CAC convener said.

The action committee also appealed the HC, Odisha government and Centre to take steps for fulfillment of the demand without hearing for the SC hearing, he added.