The Rourkela Bar Association (RBA) will intensify its agitation pressing for establishment of a High Court Bench and a Vigilance court at Rourkela along with other courts. According to RBA general secretary Raj Kishore Pradhan, for the last eight years, the members of RBA have been boycotting the court works of last three working days of each month for fulfillment of the demands.
Even on many occasions, with support of various political parties and social organisations, several rounds of dharana and Rourkela Bandh have been organised in past days. Besides, the representatives of RBA have personally met the Chief Minister, the Orissa High Court Chief Justice, other justices and Union Ministers in favour of the genuine demands. But so far no fruitful steps have been taken up. While the Union Government has been shrugging off its responsibility by alleging the State Government for inaction, the latter has been sitting silently just by writing letter to Centre on the issues.
But due to the agitation the poor and tribal people of the district are deprived of getting judiciary benefit. Besides, due to work boycott for three days in every month, the Government has also been incurring huge revenue losses. So in protest against apathy, the RBA has decided to intensify the agitation in coming days.
As per the Justice Yashobant Singh Commission report, Rourkela is the deserving place for High Court Bench. From infrastructure, communication, distance from High Court, education and health facility points of view, Rourkela fulfils all criteria but due to the apathy, it is not achieved so far, the RBA lamented.
Similarly, Rourkela deserves a Vigilance court as maximum number of vigilance cases are from Rourkela and its surrounding areas of western Odisha. As in Rourkela there is a public sector i.e Rourkela Steel Plant, besides in Sundargarh district coal and other Central Government mines and offices, it is necessary to have CBI court and Central industrial tribunal here, the RBA argued.