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Lawyers’ agitation turns violent

—Photo: Lingaraj Panda

TAKING STOCK: Revenue Divisional Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu (centre), District Collector V. K. Pandian (left) and Superintendent of Police Nitinjit Singh (in turban) inspecting the Sub-Collector’s office that was ransacked by lawyers in Berhampur on Tuesday.

BERHAMPUR: The agitation by lawyers demanding establishment of High Court benches intensified in southern and western parts of Orissa. The peaceful agitation of the Ganjam Bar Association for the past 55 days took violent turn in Berhampur on Tuesday. The offices of the Berhampur tehsildar, sub-collector and court of joint commissioner of settlement on the premises of the office of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, were ransacked by a mob of around 40 persons.

On Monday, lawyers of the Ganjam Bar Association decided to continue their cease work agitation demanding establishment of a High Court bench in the city. They took the decision after they failed to hold discussions with the Chief Minister over the issue in Bhubaneswar.

On Tuesday, the Bar association called up an emergency meeting to discuss the future course of agitation.

According to president of the association, Sudhansu Panda and its secretary, Manoj Patnaik, the ransacking occurred while the meeting was on and some miscreants rather than lawyers were involved in the act. Ganjam district Collector V.K. Pandian, RDC, Satyabrata Sahu, Berhampur SP, Nitinjeet Singh rushed to the ransacked offices to take stock of the situation.

Three platoons of armed police were deployed at the spot. Mr. Pandian said the persons involved in the act would not be spared. In western Orissa, the agitating lawyers launched a three-day agitation demanding establishment of a high court bench in their area. At Subarnapur, the lawyers courted arrest. The members of Sambalpur Bar Association picketed in front of district court, offices of RDC, sub-collector and tehsildar and did not let them function. In Rourkela, lawyers locked up the gates of local court.

Courts at Kalahandi also remained closed due to agitation by lawyers. Reports of similar agitation by lawyers have also come up from other places. It may be noted that lawyers of southern Orissa and Western Orissa have been continuing their agitation for establishment of high court benches. They were asking the State government to get a resolution for it passed in the Cabinet or in the Assembly. The Chief Minister had written a letter to the Chief Justice of Orissa high court about the demand of lawyers, which was rejected by the latter.

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