Sambalpur: Lawyers clashed with police as the protest demanding establishment of a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in Sambalpur continued on Wednesday despite the direction of the Supreme Court.
Police tried to disperse the agitating lawyers as the Judges and the Collector tried to go to their respective offices. However, the lawyers resisted the attempt of the police resulting in a clash between the two parties.
The movement demanding the establishment of a High Court bench in Sambalpur has been going on for many years. Every Wednesday, various unions close the Court office and all government offices in the district. Almost all the associations of the district have supported the demand of the lawyers.
Sureshwar Mishra, District Bar Association President and Member of central action committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Associations, said that the lawyers will not back down from their demand even if their licenses are suspended or they are arrested.
It is pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court has directed the Bar Council of India to suspend the licenses of agitating lawyers in several districts of Odisha. The bench, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, also directed for arrangements by police to prevent lawyers from obstructing the working of court.
Earlier, the Sambalpur District Bar Association had said that around 1600 lawyers will surrender their licence if one of them is suspended. Five members of the Bar Association have gone to Delhi to plead in this case.
