Baripada, Oct. 4: The bar association here wants a permanent Orissa High Court bench. To put forth its demand, a joint action committee has called for a dusk-to-dawn Mayurbhanj strike on Monday.

At a meeting held yesterday, functionaries of several political parties and representatives of various organisations decided to call a strike to attract the government’s attention to their demand.

“It will be a complete shutdown. Educational institutions, business establishments and offices will remain closed. Vehicles will not ply on the day,” said a committee member.

He said Mayurbhanj, a tribal-dominated district in north Odisha, fulfilled the criteria according to the Jaswant Singh Commission’s recommendations and, therefore, its demand for a permanent bench was justified.

“We will observe cease work and wear black badges on Saturdays. Since October 1 we have completely boycotted work,” said secretary of the Baripada Bar Association Bibhuprasad Das.

“The chief minister has sent a recommendation to the Centre to set up high court benches in western and southern Odisha. But what about north Odisha? He sent the recommendation at a time when the Justice C.R. Pal Commission report was awaited.

The chief minister’s letter would influence the commission report, and we fear that the legitimate demand of this district, which houses the largest number of tribal people in the state, will be ignored,” he said.