The courts of Baleswar district couldn’t function on Monday as members of the Bar Association abstained from work pressing for their six-point charter of demands including filling of the vacant magistrate posts and a High Court Bench at Baleswar.
The lawyers locked the entry and exit gates of different courts displaying their banners containing the charter of demands and staged demonstrations. The judges, magistrates and judicial staffs couldn’t enter into the court halls.
The advocates, alleging that the power and purview of the Sub-Judge have been squeezed, demanded restoration of the extended power as earlier.
The other demands included posting of a magistrate for the NI Act (cheque bounce case), posting for the vacant Additional Commissioner for Settlement and Consolidation, establishment of Education, Labour and Cooperation Tribunals.
The call for the cease-work by the lawyers was given following a decision of the Bar Association for an indefinite period. “However, in the next general body meeting, we would decide the further agitation,” said Bar Association president ManojNayak.