While the stalemate in western Odisha continues over the demand of a permanent Bench of the Odisha High Court, the Odisha High Court Bar Association here on Thursday condemned the attempt made by some bars of the State to throttle the democratic process of holding elections.
The State Government on Thursday, however, obtained permission from the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold discussions with the Central Action Committee of western Odisha lawyers to break the stalemate there.
But adding fuel to fire, the HC Bar Association at an extraordinary meeting resolved to ceasework on Friday in protest against the “undemocratic stand” taken by some western Odisha bars for establishment of permanent benches of the High Court at Sambalpur, Rourkela and Balangir.
“The HC Bar unanimously condemned the arm-twisting tactics of some bars and made it clear that the issue of shifting or establishment of permanent Bench of the HC has already been decided by a Division bench of the High Court and the same has been duly affirmed by the Supreme Court,” said HC bar body secretary Janmejay Katakia.
Katakia was referring to the historic judgment delivered by Justices RC Patnaik and DM Patnaik on November 13, 1991 in which it was said, “Only Parliament can decide the seat of the HC and the State legislature has no authority to enact law as regards the seat or seats of the High Court or to change the seat of the High Court”.
The HC bar also expressed grave concern over the poor strength of the judges in the HC and desired filling of the existing vacancies as soon as possible.