Cuttack, Nov. 18: Lawyers of Orissa High Court Bar Association, who were on strike since September 26 to protest against the state government’s decision to set up separate benches for western and southern Odisha, resumed their services from today.

The news of lawyers getting back to work has come as a huge relief for hundreds of litigants.

Sisir Kumar Sahoo, a farmer of Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district, is one such person who had been eagerly waiting for the strike to end.

The counsel for Sahoo, who had moved court for anticipatory bail nearly two months ago, said: “After almost 50 days I can now make mention before the court for listing and hearing of the bail application.”

The lawyers went on strike after finance minister Prasanna Acharya had hinted that the state government was ready to recommend to the Centre for setting up a separate high court bench.

The association continued the agitation to oppose chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s proposal to the Centre for setting up separate high court benches in western and southern Odisha.

The lawyers resumed duty after the general body of the association decided to end the cease work after 51 days.

“The interest of the common man and appeal by senior members were taken into consideration while suspending the agitation,” association vice-president Milan Badu said.