Woman lawyers stage a protest in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Cuttack/Sambalpur, April 30: Proceedings continued to remain disrupted at Orissa High Court today as members of the Bar continued their boycott, expressing solidarity with the Sambalpur Bar Association. The cease work started by the High Court Bar Association on Thursday afternoon will continue tomorrow, as decided by the General Body of the Association after assessing the response of the Odisha government to their demands.

Odisha has been witnessing lawyers’ agitation following a confrontation between Sambalpur district collector Mrinalini Darswal and the local lawyers on April 23. The collector was allegedly assaulted by the lawyers and her residence was ransacked by a mob. The lawyers, on the other hand, accused Darswal of misbehaving with them and using abusive language and have been demanding her arrest and removal. Several litigants were adversely affected by the lawyers’ ceased work today. The court could not proceed with the petition seeking compensation for a boy who had lost a part of right hand and leg after falling from the Palasa-Paradip passenger train near Gorakhnath station in Jagatsinghpur district on February 2.

While more than 350 cases listed before different benches of the court could not be taken up for hearing, 400-odd cases had faced the same fate on Friday. More than 50 bail applications could not be taken up for hearing, while 60 bail pleas were left unattended on Friday. Secretary of High Court Bar Association Piyush Mishra said: “Our future course of action will be decided tomorrow by the General Body and much will depend on the response of the government to our demands.”

The Association has demanded immediate withdrawal of cases against the members of the Sambalpur Bar Association and appointment of a Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired judge of the high court or the Supreme Court.

Proceedings in other courts in Cuttack were also disrupted as the Criminal Court Bar, Civil Court Bar, Board of Revenue Bar Association, State Administrative Tribunal Bar, Central Administrative Tribunal Bar, Debt Recovery Tribunal Bar and Consumer Redressal Commission and Forum Bars also ceased work in support of the decision taken by the High Court Bar Association.

In Sambalpur, the women lawyers today staged a dharna in front of the office of the inspector general of police demanding arrest of the collector, Darswal. They also demanded a judicial inquiry into the entire episode. “The allegations made by the collector against the lawyers are false, said lawyer Pushparani Mohapatra. “Eighteen lawyers were arrested in connection with the April 23 incident. We now demand the arrest of the collector on the basis of the complaint lodged by the lawyers. Moreover, we demand her transfer,” said Mohapatra.

Rejecting the crime branch inquiry ordered by the government, the women lawyers demanded a judicial probe.

On the other hand, chairperson of state commission for women Jyoti Panigrahi initiated her inquiry into the incident, in which Darswal was allegedly assaulted. The commission’s chairperson met the collector as well as lawyers.

Panigrahi urged for a solution to the stalemate in the Sambalpur district. However, the lawyers reiterated their demand for arrest of the collector. “We also want peace. But police should take action against the collector,” said president of Sambalpur Bar Association Pramod Rath.