Western Orissa lawyers boycott courts

Sambalpur, Apr 28 (UNI) Lawyers in Western Orissa today boycotted the courts, demanding establishment of permanent bench of Orissa High Court in the region.

The agitating lawyers in Western Orissa had been boycotting courts and picketing in front of the offices of the RDC, collectors, sub-collectors, tehsildars during the past three days to put pressure on the state government for a bench of the high court.

The agitation had paralysed the functioning of all the revenue and judicial courts in western Orissa.

The authorities, however, had made massive police bandobast before the court and all the revenue offices.

Sources said the agitation had been so far peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the Western Orissa.

The advocates, in good numbers, sat in front of different revenue offices, shouting slogans in support of their demands.

Sources said it would be very tough for both police and lawyers tomorrow, as the Judicial Magistrates are expected to run courts as per the instruction of the High Court.

Meanwhile 38 Bar Associations of Western Orissa had unanimously decided to move the Supreme Court against the Orissa High Court opposing bench anywhere in the state.

They had also decided to pray the Apex Court to conduct hearing of the PIL, filed by advocates of Orissa High Court as regards to closure of courts at Sambalpur and Berhampur.

UNI XC-DP SJC SLD AS2133