lawyers of the Orissa High Court on Monday passed a unanimous resolution declaring to cease court work from the day till February 19 in protest against what they said “lack of sufficient judges in the High Court to dispose of pending cases”.
“The High Court currently has only 16 judges against the sanctioned strength of 27; and there has not been any appointment of judges here for almost three years now,” informed Orissa High Court Bar Association president Srikant Nayak, pointing out that the last appointment was made in April 2015.
Sources said nearly two lakh cases are now pending disposal in the High Court till December 31 last. Over 70,000 of these cases are writ petitions of various natures, including PIls.
Two of the sitting judges are also scheduled to retire in June and July this year, the source added.
Bar Association secretary Satyabrata Mohanty informed that the association’s executive body would again meet on Friday to chalk out the next course of action; and on February 19, the general body of the association would meet to decide on continuation of the cease-work agitation or not