Western Odisha Bandh in protest of permanent High Court Bench

In the protest of permanent High Court Bench in Western Odisha, Bar associations called 12 hours Bandh in Western Odisha.  Normal life has come to a standstill throughout Western Odisha.

Permanent High Court Bench is a long standing demand from the people of Western Odisha. Till date Government is not listening the demad, as whole, people of Western Odisha supporting this Bandh with Bar Associations.

All educational institutions, business establishments and offices have been closed as protestors are picketing at various places in all the districts in Western Odisha. Not only the road but train transport has also been disrupted at several locations. In Jharsuguda, picketing is taking place at Beheramal, Station Square, Bombay Chowk, BTM colony and National Highway 10 and 49. Sambalpur-Puri Intercity and Rourkela Jharsuguda Passenger have been stranded at Khetrajpur Railway Station in Sambalpur due to the bandh.

Public and political parties have also come forward in support of the bandh. The protestors have threatened that the protest will be intensified if the Government does not heed to the demand of establishing a permanent bench of High Court in Western Odisha.

The associations are also protesting the move of the State Bar Council, which recently sought disciplinary action against the protesting lawyers. Members of political parties like the BJD and the Congress, various voluntary organisations and general public have extended their full support to the protest.

The impact of the bandh was witnessed since early morning in Sambalpur, Boudh and other parts of the region as courts, government offices, shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed.

The agitators have also staged ‘Rail Roko’ protest while halting Sambalpur-Puri Intercity Express and Bangalore Cant.-Hatia Express at Khetrajpur railway station.

Tension erupted during the bandh observation after police detained several protesters who staged ‘Rail Roko’ agitation at the station. While Sambalpur-Puri Intercity Express has been cancelled after the protest, Bangalore Cant.-Hatia Express was subsequently departed the station.

“We had earlier said that this is not just a lawyers’ protest, rather it is a public movement and it is evident from the participation of large number of public in the Rail Roko protest here today,” said a protesting lawyer.

“We will intensify our protest in future and go to any extent for the fulfillment of our demands. Whatever action is taken, we will not give up and withdraw our agitation,” he added.

Another protesting lawyer alleged that efforts are made to suppress the protest. “It is now a public movement for legitimate demands. We are protesting the efforts being made to suppress our protest. The entire Western Odisha is with us,” he said.

Meanwhile, State law minister Pratap Jena said that the demand of the lawyers for establishment of HC bench will be discussed.

It is worth mentioning here that the Odisha State Bar Council, last month, had written a letter to the Bar Council of India (BCI) seeking action against various lawyers associations continuing protests for establishment of High Court bench in western Odisha.

In the letter, the council had recommended disciplinary action against members of 17 lawyers’ associations and central working committees for continuing protest over establishment of permanent HC bench.