Row Over JSW Project: Orissa HC Constituted Lawyers’ Panel To Visit Dhinkia Again

The five-member committee of lawyers constituted by the Orissa High Court will visit Dhinkia Panchayat for the second time on Saturday to take stock of the situation in the villages there.

The Court has ordered the Jagatsinghpur district administration to make all necessary arrangements so that people of the Panchayat could express their views on Jindal Steel Works (JSW) project to the committee without any fear and pressure.

The court had constituted the lawyers’ panel on December 16 while hearing three PILs that had sought protection of human rights of people protesting against the proposed steel plant in Dhinkia.

Though the members of the panel had visited the Panchayat on February 19, they couldn’t speak to the villagers due to commotion by different groups. The local residents, who were opposing the project, alleged that while they were thrashed by the supporters of the project before the members of the committee, the police and the local administration watched their ordeal as silent spectators.

Some of the villagers are apprehensive about the successful visit of the committee this time too.

“Police thrashed my husband and we were at the police station last night. This time also, we will not be able to express our opinion freely before the committee,” said Rashmita Mallick, a villager.

Meanwhile, the Orissa HC has ordered that the meeting should be arranged by the local administration in the village and the Collector and Superintendent of Police must remain physically present. 

“Both groups of people will be permitted to come amid police protection and place their views before the committee while ensuring that one will not obstruct the other,” said lawyer, Prashant Jena.

(Edited by Pradeep Singh)