After abstaining from court proceeding for 33 days, the lawyers of undivided Koraput district finally called off their strike and resumed work on Thursday.
Undivided Koraput Scheduled District Advocates’ Joint Action Coordination Committee president Biresh Mohan Patnaik made the announcement after a meeting of the steering committee of the organisation here on Wednesday.
“We have got positive assurances from the State Government and are withdrawing the stir. However, we will observe a token strike during last two working days of every month until our demand of establishment of a permanent Bench of the Odisha High Court in undivided Koraput district is met.” said Patnaik.
The lawyers of four districts, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada, had been boycotting court activities since August 23.
While representatives of the bar associations from the region justified their demand for a HC Bench at Jeypore before the CR Pal Commission in Cuttack on September 20, they met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday.
In a related development, representatives of the Rourkela Bar Association deposed before the Pal Commission on Thursday. An 11-member team of the association on Wednesday met the Chief Minister and demanded a HC Bench in the steel city.
Meanwhile, Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda supported the demand of the bar associations of western Odisha. He said, “I believe setting up of a HC Bench in the region will help in the growth of the State.” The Ganjam Bar Association is also demanding a High Court Bench for south Odisha in Brahmapur.