Sambalpur, July 30: Traffic on the Calcutta-Mumbai national highway was disrupted today as agitating lawyers of the city stopped trucks carrying minerals demanding the establishment of a permanent high court bench in this region.

The members of Sambalpur Bar Association blocked the national highway and stopped many vehicles laden with minerals and other products used by the industries. However, other vehicles were spared.

“We have decided to block only those vehicles which are carrying goods for factories and industries. We will not obstruct other vehicles,” said the president of Sambalpur Bar Association, Pramod Rath.

The lawyers have been agitating on the last three days of each month for the last two years pressing their demand for a permanent high court bench in the region. On July 28, the lawyers closed the offices of district collector, revenue divisional commissioner and other state government establishments. The lawyers also prevented the entry of judicial officials on the court premises. Yesterday, they picketed in front of banks and other financial institutions in Sambalpur and forced them to close for the day.

The bar association president claimed that several political and non political organisations had extended their support to their demand this time. “There are some instances, where the common people have stopped the vehicles,” he said.

Lambasting the government for its apathetic towards toward their demand, Rath said: “We were forced to resort to this move. We have been agitating for more than two years. But the government has turned a deaf ear to our longstanding and genuine demand.”