Normal life came to a standstill in almost all parts of the undivided Koraput district on Tuesday due to a 12-hour bandh called by the Joint Action Committee of lawyers' associations demanding establishment of a permanent High Court Bench in the region.
Braving the chilly weather, association members staged picketing and road blockade in Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts, protesting against gross apathy of the State Government and the Centre towards the longstanding demand for a permanent High Court Bench in the region.
While all business establishments, educational institutions and Government offices remained closed, vehicles stayed off the roads during the bandh. However, emergency services were kept out of the purview of the bandh.
Commuters faced a tough time throughout the four districts as plying of buses was completely halted from 6 am to 6 pm.
Leaders of almost all the major parties like BJD, BJP, BSP, CPI and Congress and members of several social organisations and civil societies supported the bandh.
Former Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda, Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati and BJP leader Bhrugu Baxipatra said the undivided Koraput district fulfils all the criteria laid by the Jaswant Singh Commission for establishment of a permanent HC Bench.
This tribals-dominated region is located more than 550 km from the High Court in Cuttack and, thus, it deserves a permanent High Court bench, viewed the JAC.
Bar associations of different courts of Rayagada district, namely District and Session Court, Civil Court, Gunupur, JMFC, Bissam Cuttack and Kashipur, staged road blockades at thier respective court headquarters.
Agitators too blocked the National Highway 326. The entire Rayagada town was paralysed. Besides political parties, several civil society organisations and the Zilla Sambadik Sangha extended their solidarity for the cause.
In Nabarangpur district, members of the Umarkote Bar Association took out a bike rally around Umarkote town, demanding for a HC bench. Association president Prasant Kumar Sahu and members like Jhadeswar Mohanty, Srinibas Patnaik, Arun Patnaik, BK Patro, Santunu Bahinipati, Tapan Debnath, Bipin Hial, Monohar Mohanty and Khalid Jilani were present.