BHUBANESWAR: Lawyers of Capital City took to the streets on Monday protesting the State Government’s decision to abolish Odisha State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
The agitating lawyers took out a rally from Bhubaneswar court to Station Square. While marching towards Lower PMG area, the protesters tried to break the barricades on Mahatma Gandhi Marg.
Tension prevailed in the area after the agitators were involved in a tussle with police in which a woman lawyer sustained injuries.
With the situation running out of hand, Police Commissioner Dr RP Sharma intervened and requested the lawyers to meet Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi.
“Our only concern has been Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s silence over the issue. Though the CM had committed to look into the matter in the best interest of the State, no concrete action has been taken,” president of Bhubaneswar Odisha SAT Bar Association Surya Narayan Dash said.
A complaint was also lodged with Capital Police alleging police excesses on lawyers which resulted in injuries to the woman lawyer. “The response from the Chief Secretary seemed non-committal and the agitation will be intensified in the coming days,” Dash added.