SAMBALPUR: Members of Sambalpur Bar Association (SBA) have decided to boycott courts for two days, beginning today, protesting non-establishment of High Court Bench in the region. The step has been taken ahead of the High Court Judge Indrajit Mohanty visit for inspection of courts here.
Though the lawyers were present in the Bar, they abstained from judicial work virtually paralysing functioning of the courts. The Central Action Committee (CAC) of the Western Orissa Bar Association (WOBA) and SBA had earlier resolved to oppose and extend non-cooperation during the visit of any of the Judges of the High Court.
In a similar incident in July, SBA lawyers tied black ribbon on their mouth during the visit of acting Chief Justice of High Court Justice IM Quddusi who was here to inaugurate a mediation centre on the court premises. But as Quddusi’s visit involved a developmental activity, the lawyers just protested silently to send across their sentiment. Chief Minister had declared in the Assembly that the Pal Commission instituted to look into demand would submit its report by September 30 which was welcomed by the lawyers of the region.