Balangir: Members of the district bar association and the joint action committee on Friday staged a demonstration in front of the district collector's office and also district court demanding a permanent high court bench here.
Members of various organisations of Balangir also took part in the two-day demonstration to press for the demand.
Lawyers of other places in Balangir district including, Titilagarh, Kantabanjhi, Saintala, Patnagarh and Loisingha, also extended their support to Balangir bar by boycotting the court and staging a protest in front of the court.
Members of various organisation were unequivocal in batting for Balangir as the fittest place for the high court bench. President of Balangir district bar association Radhakanta Mahakud said that it was not a new demand for the people here as during the British rule the district had a high court here. "Balangir is the only place in western Odisha which meet the criterion in the guidelines formulated by the Justice Jaswant Singh Commission which was set up to look into the issue of setting up permanent benches of high court in different states of the country," Mahakud said.
The lawyers, who went on a two-day cease work from Thursday, said that the movement for high court bench at Balangir would be intensified and people from all walks of life would take part in it.
Balangir district judge has been empowered as the ex-officio registrar of high court.
"High court cases can be filed at the district judge court here, but for hearing and other court works one has to travel to Cuttack. So there are no legal problems related to setting up of the high court bench here," the bar association president said. Various committees at some point of time have considered Balangir as the right place for high court bench. In the year 1979, justice B.K. Behera had recommended Balangir for high court bench.
Mahakud further said that the movement for high court bench would be intensified. "People at the village and the panchayat level would be motivated to join the movement," he said.
