Cuttack: Taking a stern note of the ongoing lawyers’ agitation in Orissa High Court, the Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the Judiciary system cannot be brought to a standstill. A bench of the Apext Court comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Juctice KM Joseph came up with such observation during hearing of a case pertaining to Mahanadi Coal Fields (MCL) Ltd which was deffered in Orissa High Court.
The Apex Court also sought a report from Advocate Sibo Sankar Mishra, the counsel appearing on behalf of High Court of Orissa in the matter.
Based on the counsel's submission that working of the court had been made almost impossible, SC bench said, “The Registrar today submitted that there was no problem in the working of the court. However, the learned counsel who has entered appearance for the High Court of Orissa portrays a different picture and states that working of the court has been made almost impossible and even the proceedings of a Sou Motu contempt was deferred on account of the unsavory environment created by lawyers.”
"We have inquired from the learned counsel as to what steps have been taken by the High Court towards the said objective and whether the local police is in a position to ensure the same, failing which the paramilitary forces would have to be deployed for which directions can be issued to the Central government,” the bench said.
On Monday, a full bench of Orissa High Court allowed the Orissa High Court Bar Association nine days time to file a reply to the notice issued to it on the issue of ‘cessation of courts works due to continuous strike’.