Work in courts and government offices across the district came to a grinding halt as lawyers of Sambalpur District Bar Association (SDBA) boycotted courts and enforced closure of all State and Central Government offices and financial institutions on Thursday demanding establishment of a permanent bench of High Court in the region.
Similar reports were also received from Jharsuguda and Bargarh though financial institutions were exempted from the closure in Bargarh. In Deogarh, Boudh and Sonepur, lawyers boycotted courts but government offices functioned smoothly. The strike, however, did not affect the admission process underway in Ganagadhar Meher College besides other colleges in Sambalpur town.
Earlier, members of the SDBA had boycotted courts for three days on the last three working days of the month and paralysed functioning of government offices only on day one. But with no word from the State Government over their demand, they have intensified their stir in a bid to step up pressure on the State Government and have resolved to enforce complete closure of all Government offices, financial institutions for two days. It would be followed by economic blockade with suspension of movement of heavy and commercial vehicles on National Highways passing through the region for five hours on the last day since April.
Prominent among the offices which remained closed included office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (North), Collectorate, BSNL, post offices, insurance offices and banks.
Secretary of SDBA SS Sahu said it was unfortunate that despite their agitation since long, the State Government remains unmoved.
He accused the Government of adopting dilly dallying tactics on the matter by instituting and giving extension to CR Pal Commission set up to look into the issue. Although the State Government had given six months’ time to Pal Commission to submit report way back in 2008, it has been more than four years and the Commission is yet to reach any conclusion.