West Odisha lawyers intensify stir

SAMBALPUR: Lawyers forced closure of financial institutions and banks from Friday at Sambalpur, intensifying their agitation for a high court bench in western Odisha. They have been closing down government offices from Monday. Senior members of CAC (Central Action Committee) of Western Odisha All Bar Associations, spearheading the stir, are on a hunger strike in front of RDC (northern division) office here.
Both judiciary and administrative works have come to a standstill. Softening their stance, the lawyers said they are ready to accept the proposal of the government to set up the high court bench in any place of western Odisha. "Government can select a place on the basis of recommendation of Jaswant Singh Commission. The government has also set up Justice Pal Commission on the issue. Now it is the duty of the government to take immediate steps to address our demand," said lawyer Pramod Rath. He also said the Centre has an important role to play on the issue.
Senior citizens have expressed concern over the stalemate, owing to lawyers' agitation. At a meeting presided over by former vice-chancellor of Berhampur University A P Padhi, senior citizens urged both Union and state governments to find a solution to the problem at the earliest. "It is quite unfortunate that neither the state government nor the Centre is serious about the issue," senior citizen Dilip Padhi said.