The recommendation letter from the chief minister Naveen Patnaik brought ‘smile’ on faces of the protesters, who were demanding for the benches in western and southern regions of the state. Minutes after the move by the CM on Saturday, the lawyers started celebration in the districts of those regions.
All Western Odisha Bar Association decided to call off their over one-month long strike and return to work from October 1 soon after Naveen Patnaik on Saturday evening wrote a letter to the Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal recommending creation of two high court benches in southern and western Odisha.
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However, the Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Association made it clear that they will continue with cease work during last three working days of every month until a separate bench of the high court is established in their region.
Similarly, the bar association of Undivided Korpaut district welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision and celebrated with a hope that the HC bench will be set up in the region soon. However, the High Court lawyers expressed dissatisfaction over the CM’s move.
Despite the recommendation from the state government, the confusion still prevailed over the locations of the proposed benches in the two regions. While, Kalahandi Bar Association, has been demanding a high court bench at Bhawanipatna, Sambalpur seems to be the first choice for the set up of the bench in western Odisha. Similarly, the bar associations of Ganjam and Gajapati districts are demanding the Southern Odisha HC Bench at Berhampur while the agitating lawyers of the undivided Koraput district seek a bench in their area.
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