The Koraput courts were paralysed by a lawyers’ strike on Monday with the advocates locking the main gate of the SDJM Court protesting against the alleged use of excessive force in the court premises.
The lawyers alleged that the Inspector-in-charge of Koraput Town police station had blocked the movement of the lawyers in the courtroom during the production of Seashore company CMD Prasant Dash in connection with the chit fund fraud case on Sunday. The lawyers said the court hall is a public place, but the IIC of Koraput police station restrained all from entering it by engaging a large number of police personnel thereby violating individual freedom of expression, freedom of professional liberty and the right of lawyers to practise.
The local Bar Association at a meeting condemned the police excess in the court premises and demanded an unconditional apology from the IIC within 24 hours and also his transfer immediately. The lawyers would not tolerate such a situation and would call a Koraput Bandh and resort to other forms of agitation if their demand is not heeded, the association threatened.
Many litigants having no knowledge about the incident and protests suffered as proceedings in the court remained paralysed. In the afternoon, the Inspector-in-Charge of the police station apolgised before the Bar Association. President of Bar Association Nihar Ranjan Patnaik said, “As we are observing a one-day strike, further decision would be taken after the apology letter is placed at a general body meeting of the association.”