Sambalpur, Feb. 3: Court proceeding and normal official work were affected in west Odisha following an agitation by lawyers demanding setting up of a permanent high court bench in the region.

As announced earlier, the lawyers closed down the offices of the revenue divisional commissioner of northern division, district collector, municipality and other state government offices besides central government offices in Sambalpur. The lawyers also held a motorcycle rally here, which moved round the city.

The Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Associations had taken a decision to paralyse the functioning of the government offices across the region during this current Assembly session.

The CAC had taken this decision in a meeting, which was organised on the premises of Sambapur bar association on January 16.

“We want the government to send a complete and comprehensive proposal to the central government for the establishment of a high court bench in west Odisha,” said convenor of action committee of Sambalpur bar association, Pradeep Bohidar.

Earlier, lawyers had observed Chetawani Saptaha and wore black badges from January 21 to January 28 and staged a dharna at Bhubaneswar on January 29 and 30.

“The core committee members of the central action committee will launch fast unto death in front of the office of the revenue divisional commissioner, northern division in Sambalpur from February 5,” said Bohidar.

Essential services such as, health, railway, post office and education have been exempted from the closure. The banks and other financial institutions will be allowed to function, but will remain closed for three days on February 7, 8, and 10 barring February 9 as it is a Sunday.

The lawyers in the region had paralysed functioning of the state government offices during the monsoon session for 42 days.

The agitation had affected the civic polls and had to be postponed. Following the agitation, the state government had written to the union government to initiate steps for high court benches in west and south Odisha.

Later, the Union government had sought a detailed report from the state specifying places and also the consent of the high court chief justice over the proposal. The state government is yet to respond to the letter.