After abstaining from court works for more than three weeks, lawyers of the Orissa High Court attended the court on Monday as per the High Court Bar Association’s decision taken last week.
On the other hand, the Full Bench of the High Court on the day adjourned the hearing of the suo motu contempt petition it had initiated against 68 bar associations of the State, including the HC Bar, to November 29.
Concerned over frequent strikes by lawyers in the State, in an unprecedented move the Full Bench of the High Court last month had initiated a contempt case against the bar associations. Accordingly, all bar associations and the State Bar Council were issued notices to file counters.
While the HC Bar Association has filed its counter to the contempt petition, the other bar associations have sought more time to file their replies. In view of this, the High Court ‘kept in abeyance’ its decision on the HC Bar Association and adjourned the hearing to November 29.
It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court is also scheduled to hear on November 8 a matter relating to the strike by Odisha lawyers, for which the apex court has sought a personal appearance of the Odisha State Bar Council Chairman and the Bar Association president.