Refusing to entertain a PIl that sought restoration of normalcy in Bhubaneswar courts, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed the petitioner to approach the judge and registrar of the concerned court for redressal of grievance.
Ever since the State Cabinet has approved a proposal to abolish the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) on September 9, members of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association have paralysed all judicial and quasi-judicial activities in the capital city by locking the main gate of the civil court.
The strike by lawyers has even hampered work in local tehsil office, which is located adjacent to the courts in a common compound. A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice DH Waghela, nevertheless, has given liberty to the petitioner to approach the High Court afresh if his grievance is not addressed by the designated forums.
One Saroj Kumar Panda, a lawyer of Bhubaneswar courts, had approached the High Court in a PIl praying for issuance of appropriate writ directions to declare the “strike call” by the lawyers and locking of the civil court gate as illegal.
Stating that the strike call by the lawyers is gross contempt of court, the petitioner maintained that the strike has paralysed the administration of law.