Advocates stage a roadblock at Kamapalli Square in Berhampur to demand a bench of Orissa High Court in the town. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Sambalpur/Berhampur, Aug. 31: Lawyers in Sambalpur and Berhampur today hit the streets demanding a high court bench in both the western part of the state and Ganjam.

The lawyers of Sambalpur District Bar Association resorted to a five-hour economic blockade, which stranded hundreds of vehicles carrying goods at various places in Sambalpur town between 9am and 2pm today. The demonstrated at Bhalupali Chhak, Remed Chhak, Anguliapara Chhak and Sindurpankh Chhak of the town.

“We stopped the movement of only goods vehicles that were heading towards various factories. Other vehicles were not stopped,” said convener of the action committee of the Sambalpur District Bar Association Pradeep Bohidar.

Lawyers of the Jharsuguda Bar Association had also resorted to a similar economic blockade demanding a high court bench in western Odisha today.

Functioning of various state government offices and judiciary also continued to remain paralysed in Sambalpur because of the ongoing agitation demanding a high court bench. A relay hunger strike is also going on in front of the office of the revenue divisional commissioner of northern division in Sambalpur demanding the court bench.

The protesting lawyers have been closing down various state government offices and courts to press their demand since August 20.

At a meeting here yesterday evening, the Sambalpur District Bar Association members decided to continue their agitation by paralysing all state government offices and judiciary even in September. They will also continue the relay hunger strike in front of the office of the revenue divisional commission of the northern division.

Secretary of the Sambalpur District Bar Association S.S. Sahu said: “The central action committee of various western Odisha bar associations has given us the autonomy to decide our course of action to intensify the agitation.”

On the other hand, members of the Ganjam Bar Association also hit the streets demanding establishment of a permanent bench of the high court in Berhampur. The advocates resorted to a road blockade at Kamapalli Square on NH-59, which passes through Berhampur town, today.

The bar association president, Kapileswar Patnaik, said they were in constant touch with all other bar associations of the western and southern parts of the state to fight for the cause together.

“We will intensify our agitation,” said Patnaik.