Hundreds of lawyers from 32 bar associations across western Odisha under the banner of Central Action Committee (CAC) gheraoed the office of the RDC, northern division, here on Monday demanding establishment of a high court bench for western Odisha.
“The people at large and the lawyers of the region in particular have been demanding for a high court bench in western Odisha since long.
But the Government is yet to take any satisfactory initiative in this regard,” said CAC convener Ashok Dash.
“We submitted several memorandums to the Governor and the Chief Minister earlier reiterating the demand but in vain. We had also resorted to an agitation in front of the Assembly. But the Government has been dillydallying with some plea or the other,” Dash rued.
"We want to warn the Government that this is the decisive year. If our demands are not met, we will intensify the agitation," he said. He also informed that the lawyers would assemble in Bargarh on April 30 to discuss the further course of action.
“We demand before the State Government that it should send a positive proposal to the Central Government for establishment of a High Court bench in western Odisha. Moreover, we also demand to terminate the Pal Commission that was formed in 2008 to submit a report on the justification of the demand of a High Court bench in western Odisha within three months. But it has failed in doing so,” said senior member of the core committee Sureswar Mishra. Since the commission couldn’t submit its report in the stipulated time, it has no relevance now. Further, public money is being wasted through the lengthy process, Mishra alleged further.
Sambalpur District Collector PK Rath came to the spot to discuss with agitating lawyers. But the lawyers denied discussing with him. Rather, they demanded the RDC to come for a discussion. Finally, the RDC (ND), G Srinivas came for a discussion and assured that he would appraise the matter to the Government. Earlier, the lawyers took out a rally from laxmi Talkies Chowk and assembled in front of the office of the RDC.