Bandh in western Orissa for high court bench

Sambalpur, Aug 29 (UNI) The dawn-to-dusk 12-hour bandh, called by the lawyers demanding establishment of a permanent bench of the High Court, completely paralysed life in the entire Western Orissa today.

Police said barring a few sporadic incidents the bandh passed off peacefully.

All offices and educational institutions, Banks, LIC, shops and commercials establishments were closed in response to the bandh in Nuapara Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Boudh and Sundergarha in response to the bandh.

National and state highways wore a deserted look as the vehicle were off the road.

Train services were also severely affected as the bandh supporters squatted on the railway tracks.

While many trains were cancelled, some long distant trains were controlled at various stations beyond the territory of Western Orissa.

Almost all socio-cultural organisations and trade unions extended support to the bandh.

Senior advocate Satyanarayan Panda said the lawyers had been demanding a permanent bench of the High Court for more than a decade in Western Orissa but the government was not paying any heed to the demand.

A report from Rourkela said members of Rourkela Bar Association locked the gates of Judicial Courts and prevented the judges and magistrates from working.

The lawyers also closed various government offices forcibly.

Later, the Bar Association submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through ADM Rourkela, demanding the establishment of a permanent bench of Orissa High Court anywhere in Western Orissa and a vigilance court at Rourkela.

The memorandum said the Chief Minister had assured a delegation of the lawyers to consider their demand and constituted a committee to assess the feasibility.

The committee was asked to submit its report within six months but unfortunately no action was taken till today, it said.

UNI XC-BD SJC AB 2108