Sept. 5: Even before the decision of converting Ramgarh into a separate district could come into force, the Hazaribagh Bar Association has moved the Jharkhand High Court opposing the proposal of the government.

The association in a public interest litigation (PIL) has challenged the notification of the government issued in 2005 by which the Hazaribagh deputy commissioner was directed to give his report on the proposal to separate Ramgarh from Hazaribagh.

The association has said that Ramgarh is a sub-division of Hazaribagh district and has been neglected by the government.

They accused that the decision has been influenced by political considerations and the interest of the people of the district has been ignored.

Ramgarh is not fit to be a district because it lacks the basic infrastructure and governmental machinery which ought to be in any district.

There are no government residences, offices and treasury. Offices of various departments of the government are also absent, the PIL said.

A major part of Ramgarh comes under the purview of the army cantonment and government offices are located outside the town area.

The association said that Hazaribagh comprises 15 blocks and if it is divided, then Hazaribagh will have no existence at all.

The government has not bothered to construct a medical or technical college in Hazaribagh and is planning to divide the district which is baseless. Industrial units like BASL, PTPS, CCL are all located in and around Ramgarh and its separation from Hazaribagh would also affect the business and trade of the district, the PIL mentioned.

Meanwhile, in Hazaribagh normal functioning of the court was disrupted today by the “pen down” strike of the lawyers.

The District Bar Association observed the strike as part of their agitation to protest the creation of Ramgarh by dividing Hazaribagh.

Lawyers, under the banner of Hazaribagh Bachao Morcha, accompanied by political leaders and representatives of various unions, went on the streets on the second day of their agitation.

Lawyer Bhaiya Mukesh said all the members of Hazaribagh Bar Association today supported the “pen down” strike. Lawyers even condemned the act of the government in a meeting and said they would leave no stone unturned to stop awarding district status to Ramgarh.

Lawyers claimed that they would not hesitate to go to the Supreme Court to stop the division of Hazaribagh.

Later at Pagoda Chowk, lawyers and leaders joined the nukkad sabha, telling the public about the negative impact of the proposed division.

“In Uttar Pradesh, Supreme Court had cancelled the notification of the government related to the creation of two new districts. We will also move the apex court to stop this division,” they announced.