The bar councils of Khariar and Nuapada have joined the strike for establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court in western Odisha.
“In support of the demand for establishment of a permanent HC bench, we have called the strike,” said Khariar Bar Council president Sarada Panda. “We are boycotting the urban local body (UlB) elections and have stopped the filing of nominations to the Khariar NAC,” added Panda.
The bar council members approached the Tehsildar of Khariar who is acting as the Election Officer and other officials to stop the nomination. The office was locked by the members.
“I will report to the Election Commission about the development,” said the Tehsildar. The bar council of Khariar convened a meeting of all the leading political parties of the district and appealed for support. Sanjay Tiwari of BJD, Adhiraj Panigrahi and Nimai Tandi of Congress, Jadumani Panigrahi of BJP and Sanyasi Das of Samajbadi Party attended the meeting and expressed their support to the demand of the advocates.
“The bar council has raised a genuine issue and we express our solidarity with the lawyers,” said the members of different political parties. Three candidates Ahalya Tandi and Debaki Tandi for Ward No1, and Chandrama Sabar for Ward No 6, who have already filed their nominations, gave in writing to the bar that they would withdraw their nominations on August 26.
“We will continue our strike till the Government responds and the NAC will remain closed,” the bar council members said. The strike was led by advocates Chitta Ranjan Singh Deo, Siba Prasad Meher, Santosh Mishara and others.