For lack of sufficient members attending the general body (GB) meeting of the Odisha High Court Bar Association on Wednesday, the association decided to hold yet another GB meeting on November 4 to take a decision on whether to continue their ongoing strike. The boycott of courts by the lawyers would continue till that day, informed a Press release issued by association secretary Janmejaya Katakia.
The association’s decision came a day after a 30-member delegation of lawyers met Chief Justice AK Goel. Sensing the mood of most of the members of the association to call off the strike as the contentious issue of setting up of HC Benches is now at the appropriate forum, some members were of the opinion to postpone the decision on the strike as a number of lawyers were absent.
The HC lawyers have been boycotting court activities since September 26 in protest against the State Government’s confusing stand on the proposed HC Benches. They are also highly critical about Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s September 28 letter to Union law Minister Kapil Sibal asking the latter to take steps to set up HC Benches in the southern and western regions of the State.
Sibal on the other hand has termed the CM’s recommendation as “incomplete” as it was not endorsed by the State’s Chief Justice and, accordingly, the Union Minister sent back the recommendation to the State Chief Justice seeking his views on the issue.