While lawyers in western Odisha are on an indefinite cease-work agitation demanding establishment of a permanent High Court Bench in their region, members of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association on Thursday went on a one-day cease-work stir demanding shifting of the Odisha High Court from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar.
The lawyers too blocked the National Highway-203 near the Bhubaneswar District and Sessions Court here disrupting vehicular movement for some time and urged the State administration and judicial system to take initiatives for shifting of the seat of the High Court.
“Our demand is legitimate. We have been demanding shifting of the High Court from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar since 1990 and have also submitted a memorandum to the then President of India. We also are a party in the Justice CR Pal Commission set up by the State Government to give a report on the demand of the western Odisha lawyers for a permanent High Court Bench. Since then, we have been appealing to the concerned administration on our demand but in vain,” said association president Santosh Chhoudhury.
lawyers warned that if the no positive steps are not taken, they would intensify agitation.