Bhubaneswar, Aug. 30: Lawyers demanding shifting of Orissa High Court from Cuttack to the state capital paralysed work in the district and sessions court complex for the second day today.

Lawyers of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association also blocked the National Highway No. 203 connecting Cuttak and Puri for more than an hour by burning tyres and organising a procession from the court premises to Kalpana Square. Police rounded up the protesters when they were marching towards Kalpana Square. They were released after half an hour.

The litigants, who turned up at the court complex unaware of the cease work by the lawyers, had to return disappointed. Similarly, commuters suffered as traffic on NH-203 was disrupted for about an hour.

“I had heard about their cease work yesterday, but I did not know they were going to do it today. I have lost a day and will need to come back again for my work,” said Shyama Charan Hota of Raghunathpur. Hota had come to court in connection with a case.

As the lawyers blocked the NH and held rally on the stretch from court premises to Kalpana Square, the police diverted vehicles at various places on the route. While vehicles coming from the Rasulgarh side were diverted from Badagada Square through the service road behind BJB College, the ones coming from Puri were diverted from Rabi Talkies Square towards Mousima and Sishu Bhavan Square.

The diversions not only confused passengers coming from Puri, but also created traffic jam in many parts of the city.

“I had to go to Patia to catch a bus. But, as the vehicles were diverted, we were forced to get down from the bus at Vivekanand Marg. I had a horrific day,” said Pipili resident Ashoka Maharathy.

Traffic policemen deployed at Mousima Square had a hard day controlling traffic as the area became more crowded with vehicles coming from various sides.

“The traffic almost came to a standstill for around half an hour when the rallyists marched towards Kalpana Square. We were trapped in the congestion,” said Kedargouri resident Nirupama Lenka.

A lawyer said their demand was legitimate as the high court should be located in the state capital like it was the case in most other states of the country. In 1991, the state government had tried to shift the high court here, but it did not happen.

“We have staged protests several times and we want the high court to be shifted to Bhubaneswar. This is the right time for pressing our demand and we hope the government will listen to us,” said association secretary Prasana Parida. The lawyers said they were even ready to move the Supreme Court in this regard and, if need be, would file a petition to the President.