Sambalpur: Functioning of judicial courts, collectorate and other offices were paralysed on Thursday following agitation by striking lawyers affiliated to the Sambalpur District Bar Association.

Association members began a fresh agitation on September 5 in support of their demand for a bench of Orissa High Court in west Odisha.

The general body of the association met on Thursday to review the situation following a letter written by chief minister Naveen patnaik to the Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Naveen, in his letter, requested Prasad to expedite the process of setting up high court benches in west and southern Odisha.

The association appreciated the government's move and thanked Naveen for writing a third letter to the Centre. It also requested him to send a delegation to the Centre to personally sort out the problems across the table on the issue. It was also decided to send a letter of appreciation to the chief minister. The general body also decided to continue their agitation till the last date of the present Assembly session on September 20 to push for their demands.

"We will not allow the judicial courts, tehsil and district registration offices to function. However, the office of the revenue divisional commissioner and collectorate will be exempted. We will request the collector not to hold any court during the period of agitation," Pradhan told The Telegraph.

"The decision to stage black flag demonstration against ministers during their visit to Sambalpur district will continue only against Union ministers," he added.

On August 6, a delegation of the Sambalpur District Bar Association met with chief minister Naveen Patnaik and requested him to write a reminder to the Union law minister and to depute a delegation to the Centre to sort out the differences. Naveen had assured them that he would write a strong letter and take up the matter.

The lawyers of west Odisha have formed a Central Action Committee with the representatives of different bar associations to push for their demand. They were continuing their dharna and preventing judges from entering the courts for the last three working days of each month. The lawyers had also staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in November 2016 and, later, near the high court in Cuttack to draw attention of the Union government and Orissa High Court.