The District Lawyers’ Association has demanded setting up of a Coal Bearing Tribunal at Jharsuguda.
After presenting a memorandum to the Union Coal Minister, the association has requested to Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari to take suitable action in the matter.
The Jharsuguda District Bar Association said that a major portion of coal mines of Jharsuguda and neighbouring Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts are under Mahanandi Coalfields Limited (MCL). But, the applications on displacement, compensation and employment with the concerned companies are at present under the jurisdiction of Dhenkanal Coal Tribunal.
Dhenkanal being 300 km away from Jharsuguda, the lawyers and applicants are facing a lot of difficulties and financial hardship to attend the Tribunal at Dhenkanal.
At present, many applications of Jharsuguda and neighbouring districts are pending for decision in Dhenkanal Coal Tribunal. Besides, there is a lot of pressure on the District and Sessions Judge , Dhenkanal to decide these cases as head of Coal Tribunal.
The hearing dates in many cases being shifted many times. As a result, the applicants and lawyers are facing difficulties and return home empty handed without any decision.
Considering the long standing grievances for a Coal Tribunal at Jharsuguda, the Central Coal Ministry has been requested to take a favourable decision in the case, said the Bar Association members.
Sundargarh and Sambalpur Lawyers Association have also placed similar grievances for consideration by the Centre. The association also discussed the issue with MP Suresh Pujari and handed over a copy of the memorandum to him.
During discussion, association president P Ram Mohan Rao and many other lawyers were present.