Representatives of 15 bar associations of Ganjam and Gajapati districts attended a steering committee meeting convened by the Ganjam Bar Association here on Saturday and decided to intensify their agitation for establishment of a permanent Bench of the Odisha High Court for southern Odisha at Brahmapur.
The steering committee decided to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to press the demand. If no fruitful outcome comes forth out of discussions with the Chief Minister, a massive rally would be organised in Brahmapur followed by a Ganjam Bandh, said president of Ganjam Bar Association Kapileswar Pattnaik.
The Ganjam Bar Association strongly condemned the statement made by Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya recently that the Government is contemplating to recommend the Centre for establishment of a HC Bench at Sambalpur.
The assurances given by former Chief Minister late Biju Patnaik to Ganjam people for a HC Bench at Brahmapur should be fulfilled by his son, Naveen, said the spokesperson of the Ganjam Bar. leading members of the bar including Dr Sachi Rath and Sisir Kumar Padhi were present st the meeting.
In an interview to the UTV, former Assembly Deputy Speaker and BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda condemned the delaying tactics of the State Government for establishment of a HC Bench at Brahmapur. The Government constituted the Pal Commission only to divert public attention from the core issue, he said.
Had the Government recommended to the Centre in time for HC Benches at two to three places in the State at one go, the present agitation would not have taken place in the entire State, Panda added.