Balangir, Aug. 22: The Balangir Bar Association today refused to extend support to the bandh call given by the Central Action Committee to be observed on August 25 pressing for the demand of a separate high court bench in Balangir.

The decision was taken today at an urgent meet of the bar’s executive committee. Earlier, the association had withdrawn its support to the united fight for a high court bench anywhere in western Orissa and demanded the bench be set up in Balangir.

President of the association Subhranshu Sekhar Mishra said the Balangir bar had decided not to extend support to the western Orissa bandh call by the action committee on August 25 in the best interest of the people of Balangir.

“We are not going to support the bandh call. We have distanced ourselves from the committee long ago and have been fighting for a separate high court bench in Balangir. We have taken the decision in the best interest of the people of Balangir,” said Mishra.

“For over a year, we have been fighting for a separate bench in Balangir by boycotting court and sitting on dharnas in front of the district collectorate on the last Friday of every month. The bars of Patnagarh, Titilagarh and Kantabanjhi are supporting us,” said Mishra.