A month has passed since the December 12, 2022 agitation for a High Court Bench in Sambalpur. It was not an agitation but a ‘Satyagraha’ as was written in the banner. But the entire nation has seen how the incident turned out ugly for which the Supreme Court snubbed the police, administration and the State Government.
The situation was such that if police had not arrested the agitators, the Supreme Court could have recommended for imposition of President rule in Odisha as it was a serious issue of law and order involving the safety of a District Judge.
Police, who were dealing with all respect and patience with the lawyers for more than two decades, finally arrested them, their leaders, a court staff of the Bar Association, besides eight eunuchs, as an immediate response to the flare-up and amid strict stricture from the SC.
About 27 lawyers and the office bearers of CAC (central action committee) have been arrested on different dates over the incident, who are going to complete a month in jail. No one can say when they will be granted bail as their bail petitions are being frequently rejected in the district level on different dates.
“We don’t expect that the Orissa High Court will give us bail. Hence, the Supreme Court is the only ray of hope before us,” said a senior lawyer here. “In order to facilitate bails, we have withdrawn the agitation for High Court bench unconditionally forever, but nothing positive has happened for us as regards bail matters,” he added.
But surprisingly, some leading organisations and important persons of the city who wholeheartedly supported the agitation and Satyagraha are now maintaining distance from the lawyers and Bar Association. “We have supported the advocates for Satyagraha. But the December 12 incident was not at all Satyagraha,” they clarified.
Further, police sources said that immediately after the incident, some people condemned the incident in the District Judge’s chamber. Whatever may be the fact, the lawyers who facilitate common people in getting justice are now cooling their heels. This is a concern for the general public and family members of the arrestees.