The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Ganjam lawyers to continue agitation for HC benches

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Monday, Jan 21, 2008
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Ganjam lawyers to continue agitation for HC benches

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Lawyers of the Ganjam Bar Association and all other bar associations in Ganjam district have decided to continue their strike despite their meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday.

These lawyers have been boycotting court for the past 48 days demanding establishment of a bench of the Orissa High Court in the city for south Orissa. On Saturday, the Chief Minister had met a delegation of these agitating lawyers to hold discussion regarding their demand. The delegation of lawyers included president of the Ganjam Bar Association, Sudhansu Panda, its general secretary, Manoj Patnaik, chairperson of the action committee of the lawyers, S.N.Ratha and representatives of all bar associations of Ganjam district. The State Law Secretary and Home Secretary were also present at the meeting.

‘Stumbling block’

Mr Patnaik said the Chief Minister was supportive of their demand. But the lawyers and the Chief Minister could not reach fruitful decision due to bureaucratic stumbling blocks, he said . The Chief Minister had recently written to the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court requesting establishment of High Court benches for southern Orissa and western Orissa.

The Chief Justice had rejected the request of the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister and the lawyers discussed the possible ways through which the process of establishment of High Court benches in the State could be initiated.

The lawyers have decided to continue their cease-work agitation.

They would again sit for an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss their future course of action.

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