KalingaTV News Network
Sambalpur: The demand for the establishment of a permanent bench of Orissa High court in western Odisha intensified as the members of the Sambalpur District Bar Association opposed the visit of Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera here on Saturday.
Earlier on the day, hundreds of lawyers staged black-flag demonstrations opposing the visit of the Minister, who was scheduled to attend a function at the the Gangadhar Meher University in the city.
As the police tried to stop the lawyers’ protest rally, a scuffle ensued between lawyers and police personnel. Later, more than 150 lawyers were detained under preventive arrest.
“Though the Chief Minister had written two letters to the Union government to set up a high court bench in western Odisha, the State Govt has been maintaining silence and the Modi Government is also not showing any interest in this regard”, alleged an agitating lawyer.
“We have therefore decided not to allow any Union Minister or State Ministe into the city”, he added.
The lawyers of the west Odisha have been demanding establishment of a bench of the high court for several decades now. They had also staged a demonstration in front of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and near the high court in Cuttack to press their demand.
Kalinga AI