Even as the Statewide lawyers’ strike took an ugly turn as it completed two months on Monday, at least 270 under-trial prisoners (UTPs) languishing in overcrowded jails for all these days were enlarged on bails by camp courts held at several prison premises on the day.
The camp courts were, as per the orders of the High Court, held in the jail premises, where presiding officers along with court staffs heard the bail applications of the UTPs after they were identified by the jail authorities and presented before the courts by the jail paralegal volunteers.
Sources in the High Court Registry informed that the camp courts would continue in all jails during the working hours of every working day. Jails across the State are now bursting at the seams as the criminal courts are paralysed due to the prolonged abstinence of work by advocates since August 29. Looking at the developments in Cuttack, the lawyers’ strike is unlikely to end soon.
Following Saturday’s split in lawyers’ unity after the lawyers belonging to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Legal Front decided to withdrew from the strike, Monday witnessed a pitched battle between the lawyers owing allegiance to the ruling BJD and the agitating lawyers.
The High Court premises was converted into a battleground as both the factions scuffled exchanging angry words and then fisticuffs even as the High Court was fortified with a heavy police deployment.
An unsubstantiated number of advocates, including a woman, two policemen and a youth, believed to be a member of the controversial Biju Yuva Vahini, were injured in the hour-long conflict between the warring advocates. At least four written complaints were received at the local Lalbag police station, informed Twin City Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty.
“As per the instructions of the Chief Justice (High Court), adequate police arrangement was made near the court premises on the day. Some incidents took place inside the court causing injuries to a few persons. We have received four complaints and the same are now being investigated and actions will be taken on them as per law,” said Mohanty.
Similar situations were witnessed on the day in district courts at Bhubaneswar, Baleswar, Baripada, where lawyers threatened to continue their agitations indefinitely until the two policemen, who assaulted a Cuttack-based lawyer on August 28, were arrested.