Members of the Sambalpur District Bar Association (SDBA) resorted to economic blockade for five hours from 8 am to 1 pm on Tuesday demanding establishment of a High Court Bench in western Odisha. Hundreds of goods carriers remained stranded on the roads because of the blockade.
The lawyers gathered at the main entrance points of the city at Ainthpali, Remed, Dhanupali and Sindupankh and stopped goods carriers without making any problems for the vehicles carrying passengers.
As a matter of regular practice and protest, the lawyers have been resorting to cease-work on the last three days of every month since long for a High Court Bench closing down all the State Government offices, courts, banks and other financial institutions.
“To make our agitation more forceful, we resorted to the economic blockade this time,” said new SDBA president Krushna Chandra Baboo. “This is a decisive year. We have decided to intensify our agitation. And as per the decision of the Central Action Committee (CAC) of the bar associations of western Odisha, we resorted to the economic blockade,” said SDBA SS Sahu.
Sahu alleged that the State Government is apathetic towards the “genuine demand”.
“We also demand abolition of the Pal Commission which has been formed to submit a report on the justification of the demand of a High Court Bench in western Odisha. Moreover, we want the State Government to send a resolution to the Central Government about establishment of a permanent High Court Bench in western Odishsa,” he said.