Cuttack: Proceedings in Orissa High Court and other subordinate courts were paralysed on Wednesday as lawyers stayed away from the court citing "inconvenience" because of the strike observed by the BJP and the Congress over suicide of the alleged Kunduli gang-rape victim.

High Court Bar Association secretary Satyabrata Mohanty said: "We resolved not to attend court on Wednesday, anticipating possible inconvenience for the lawyers to reach the court due to the strike."

Litigants were affected as hundreds of cases, including large number of bail pleas and anticipatory bail applications, went without hearing.

Hearing on the case of Patkura's Sushanta Kumar Barik, who had sought the court's intervention for disposal of his petition filed before the State Information Commission, could not be taken up.

For Achyuta Suna, who is lodged at Kesinga jail, it was another day lost. The police were expected to submit the case diary for further adjudication of his bail plea, but the court could not take it up in the absence of lawyers.

The bar associations in Cuttack had resolved to remain absent from lower courts citing possible inconvenience to reach court because of the strike.

The functioning of the District and Sessions Judge Court and other subordinate courts in Bhubaneswar was also paralysed because of the lawyers' boycott.