In order to intensify its fight for establishing a permanent High Court bench in Jeypore, the District Bar Association has decided to call for a bandh in undivided Koraput district on September 4.
A disciplined dharana would also be organised by the school and college students in Jeypore on Sunday, informed association president Biresh Patnaik. The advocates also threatened to stage an economic blockade in the region in order to force the Government to take all necessary steps for immediately setting up a permanent bench at Jeypore.
The advocates argued that Jeypore is 700 km from the State High Court at Cuttack which is proving difficult, expensive and time consuming for the people of Koraput district to attend it. They claimed that all the bar associations of the undivided Koraput district had joined hands to intensify the agitation if the demand was not met.
The Bar Association of Jeypore also convened a meeting of officer bearers of the bar associations in the district and finalized an action plan for intensifying its demand. Former Congress MlA Tara Prasad Bahinipati along with other party supporters threw their weight behind the lawyers. The BJP leaders also supported the demand and handed over a memorandum before the sub collector here. Different trade unions and social organisations also supported the demand of the lawyers.
Meanwhile, the scribes here also organised a rally and handed over a memorandum to the sub collector. Karan Samaj headed by Dhiren Patnaik also took out a rally supporting the advocates.