There is no sign of any let-up in the ongoing strike of lawyers of the Orissa High Court here as the HC Bar Association at a general body meeting on Friday resolved not to call off its cease-work stir until an adequate number of judges are appointed in the court.
“The general body of the Bar Association will again meet on Monday afternoon to chalk out its next course of action,” informed association secretary Satyabrata Mohanty. He said the ongoing relay hunger strike by the lawyers would also continue.
Meanwhile, a team of senior lawyers led by senior advocate Asim Amitav Dash met two of the senior most judges of the High Court and apprised them about the concerns of the lawyers. “The discussions were held in a cordial manner and both the judges appeared positive,” Dash said.
The lawyers have been boycotting the court since February 12 and have resorted to a relay hunger strike from February 19. No fresh cases have been filed in the HC for last five days; and the clients have been requested not to argue their own cases in courtrooms.
While 32 per cent posts of judges are lying vacant across the High Courts in India, the Orissa High Court is having more than 40 per cent vacancies. There has been no appointment of judges here since May 2015; and against 27 posts, the HC now has only 16 judges.