Members
of the Ganjam Bar Association blocked the roads in front of the Berhampur court
on August 30 as part of their continuing agitation for the demand of
establishment of a permanent bench of the Odisha High Court in the city. They
also handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at
the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division.
Through
the memorandum, they urged the Chief Minister to immediately request the
Central government for establishment of a permanent bench of the Odisha High
Court in Berhampur. The lawyers of the Ganjam Bar Association also requested
the CM to hold a meeting with the representatives of the bar association over
the issue.
During
their road blockade and demonstration, the agitating lawyers shouted slogans
against the Justice C.R.Pal Commission calling for its withdrawal.
This
single member judicial commission had been set up by the Odisha government
through a notification made in March 2008 to enquire and investigate into the
demands for permanent benches of Odisha High Court in South and Western Odisha. It
was to furnish its report in six months but till now it has not come up with
any interim report also.
The
agitating lawyers alleged that in the name of this commission the decision on
the demand for establishment of permanent bench of Odisha High Court for south
Odisha in Berhampur was being delayed. President of the Ganjam Bar Association
Kapileswar Patnaik Sadi said that they were planning to intensify their
democratic agitation with support of people, which would also include road
blockade and bandh calls.
A
senior lawyer of Ganjam Bar Association, P.J.Padhi said hearing by a bench of
Odisha High Court in Berhampur had occurred during the British era. According
to him on January 4, 1937, then justice of High Court had held circuit court in
Berhampur, which hinted that this city was considered suitable for a bench of
the High Court for south Odisha even during the British era. Agitating lawyers
shout slogans against Justice C.R. Pal Commission. Source: The Hindu
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