Demand for permanent HC bench reignites in Koraput, lawyers resume stir after 2 yrs

After a hiatus of two years, members of the Jeypore Bar Association resumed their agitation on Wednesday demanding a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in the undivided Koraput district.

As per reports, the stir was put on hold for two years owing to COVID restrictions. However, the association has resumed the agitation and from now on, it will observe cease-work stir on the last two days of every month.

Speaking to OTV, a protesting lawyer said, "We have been staging sit-ins since 2018. Our demand will not only benefit the lawyers but, it will definitely benefit the public, especially who belong to a poor background."

"Our demand is not only for Koraput district, rather we want a permanent bench for the undivided Koraput district including Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Malkangiri," the lawyer said.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the HC Bar association had earlier decided to form an action committee to prepare a resentment representation for submission to the Chief Justice not to give his consent for establishment of two permanent benches of the High Court of Orissa both in south and western parts of the State during the General Body meeting today.

The move by the lawyers' body came just days after Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to obtain the Orissa High Court nod for setting up the HC benches in western and southern Odisha.

The Centre had said it will take further necessary actions only after the proposal to set up the HC benches is sent by the State government after due consent from the High court