Jeypore Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati on Wednesday supported the demand of the Koraput Bar Association to set up a permanent Bench of the Orissa High Court at Jeypore.
Justifying the demand for a HC Bench in Jeypore, Bahinipati said, "Jeypore fulfils all the criteria laid down by the Jaswant Singh Commission for establishment of a permanent Bench of the HC. This place is located more than 550 km away from the HC, Cuttack. Besides it is a tribal-dominated district with many areas still lying cut-off.”
Bahinipati also appealed the Bar Association of undivided Koraput district to support the bandh on December 18.
Bahinipati clarified that the District Congress Committee will be supporting the bandh and if the demand is not fulfilled, the Congress will go for an indefinite bandh throughout the district.
Lawyers like Ramesh Patra, Rabi Patra , Nanajee Acharya and Harish Muduli said if established, the HC Bench in Jeypore would cater to the need of the people of Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Gajapati districts as well as the residents of these areas face much difficulty in going to Cuttack to pursue legal matters.
“We have been demanding for the HC Bench for a long time but our demand is deliberately ignored,” they said.
Among others, Nihar Bisoyi, Ganga Sahu, Nori Mohanty, Janab Habibulah, Jyotiranjan Mohapatra, Jotin Hota and Sital Rath were present.