HC Bar dismisses 3 lawyers including 2 from BJD legal front for 'sabotaging' agitation

Cuttack: Alleging that there was a deliberate attempt to derail the lawyers’ agitation, Orissa High Court Bar Association on Friday dismissed three lawyers including two office bearers of the ruling-BJD's legal front.

Besides, a show-cause notice has also been issued to Odisha Bar Council chairperson, Tahali Mohanty, informed Orissa High Court Bar Association secretary, Satyabrat Mohanty.

Mohanty informed that advisor and convener of BJD's legal front Asim Amitabh Das and Milan Kanungo and former Orissa High Court Bar Association vice-president Bansidhar Satpathy have been dismissed.

“At the executive and general body meeting it was unanimously decided to dismiss 3 lawyers for trying to sabotage lawyer agitation that is continuing for the last 65 days demanding immediate arrest of the police personnel involved in the attack on one of our colleagues,” said Mohanty.

Mohanty further informed that their cease-work agitation will continue till November 9 as the hearing on the case will be conducted on the same day.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Orissa High Court Bar Association had condemned the move of the BJD legal front which withdrew from the cease-work agitation after a decision was taken by the bar association to burn effigies of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in front of all bar associations on October 31.

Later, there was massive unrest triggered by scuffle between two lawyer groups in front of Orissa High Court on October 29. Several lawyers including a woman advocate was also injured after they were attacked allegedly by members of Biju Yuva Vahini.

“We also condemn the politicization of the lawyers’ agitation and in particular the way Odisha government is dealing with the issue. We also appeal the State government to resolve the issue as we are open for discussions,” Mohanty added.