The Central Action Committee (CAC) of the lawyers in an important meeting at Burla decided to further intensify the movement for the High Court Bench in western Odisha.
However, in a remarkable decision, the CAC for the first time clarified the place as Sambalpur where it seeks the Bench to be established.
“Earlier the CAC demanded for the High Court Bench anywhere in western Odisha. But looking at the attitude of the Balangir Bar Association and its activity in maintaining a safe distance formula from other bodies, the CAC wants Sambalpur to be the place for the HC Bench,” informed convenor Ashok Das.
Further, all the bar associations of western Odisha were present in this important meeting and supported the decision of the CAC.
Those few who couldn’t come have expressed their willingness for Sambalpur as the location, Das added.
The demand for the HC Bench in Odisha is years’ old, but the Governments at the Centre and the State have taken a very casual approach to it.
Hence, to put pressure on both, the CAC decided to close all the State and Central Government offices from November 19 to 30.
At present, only judicial and revenue courts are closed due to the protest. But during this period not a single office of the State and Central Government will be allowed to function, said Sambalpur District Bar Association president Bijitendriya Pradhan.
Further, the CAC will organise a 48-hour Mahabandh on November 29 and 30 across western Odisha to put pressure on the Government.
However, if the Government takes any positive decision within this period, then the CAC will soften the stand, the members said.
The CAC further said that the State Government in its letter in the year 2007 signed by the Chief Minister had made it clear that it had no objection if two Benches are established in Sambalpur and Brahmapur. But any dilly-dallying now is not acceptable, the members added.