CUTTACK: The arrest of 18 lawyers in the aftermath of the April 23 confrontation with the collector in Sambalpur is set to fuel a State-wide lawyers’ agitation with the Orissa High Court Bar Association (OHCBA) throwing its weight behind Sambalpur lawyers.
Work at the High Court came to a standstill on Thursday as lawyers, under OHCBA, announced a ceasework till April 30 protesting the arrest of their counterparts in Sambalpur. As lawyers stayed off courts from the post-lunch session, the OHCBA convened an extraordinary general body meeting to express solidarity with the members of the fraternity in Sambalpur.
The meeting, presided by over by OHCBA president Jayant Das, moved a resolution announcing ceasework till Monday. The Bar also announced that the Lawyers’ Day, celebrated on April 28, would be observed as a black day and all members of the fraternity would sport black badges. It also called upon all Bar associations of the State to join the protest and observe the Lawyers’ Day in similar manner. The Bar has demanded immediate withdrawal of the cases against the lawyers and a judicial inquiry into the incident. Further course of action would be decided at the next general body meeting on Monday.