Cuttack/Baripada, Oct. 7: The fight for a separate high court bench has divided western Odisha lawyers.

Bar associations of both Balangir and Rourkela have pleaded for the bench in their respective areas while deposing before the Justice C.R. Pal Commission.

Though both the bar associations have demanded formation of a zone on the basis of the 10 districts under Western Odisha Development Council for establishing a high court bench in the region, they are divided over its location.

While lawyers of Balangir demanded a high court bench in their town on the ground that it is centrally located among the 10 districts, lawyers of Rourkela have argued that their location enjoyed better railway connectivity with other parts of the western region.

Lawyers of both Balangir and Rourkela have contended before the commission that the areas covered under council were backward and populated by people belonging to the scheduled tribe.

They said that due to their backwardness, people of these areas were unable to come to the main seat of the high court in Cuttack to avail their legal and constitutional rights.

In his deposition before the commission, Balangir Bar Association’s former president Ashok Kumar Mohanty said: “The districts coming under council be taken into consideration for formation of a zone for setting up a high court bench at Balangir town, which is centrally located among these districts.”

On the other hand, Rourkela Bar Association president Ramesh Chandra Balla said: “We demand that the districts which come under the council be considered as a zone for establishing a high court bench in the area and Rourkela be chosen as its location for having better road and rail link.”

Interestingly, lawyers of Sambalpur Bar Association are yet to submit before the commission any demand for a high court bench in their town.

However, in Mayurbhanj district was paralysed today due to a dawn–to-dusk bandh called by the Joint Action Committee of the bar associations to demand the permanent bench in Baripada.

Local BJD MLA Sananda Marandi said: “Our party supports the cause of the lawyers. The chief minister has invited the action committee for talks on Friday.”