A 30-member delegation of the Orissa High Court lawyers led by senior advocate Gangadhar Tripathy on Tuesday met the Chief Justice A K Goel in the High Court and apprised him of their grievances in connection with the State government’s attempt to set up permanent benches of the HC in flouting the Constitutional provisions guiding the same.
Contentious issue
“We apprised the Honourable Chief Justice about our stand on the issue and requested him to ensure that any decision taken on the contentious issue is made as per law governing it,” said Mr Tripathy after meeting the Chief Justice. He said the Chief Justice was likely to take a decision on it within two to three days.
Basing on the discussion with the Chief Justice, the High Court Bar Association will take a decision on the fate of their ongoing strike at the general body meeting scheduled on Wednesday morning. “Whether we will continue our strike or drop it, the decision on it will be taken at the general body meeting,” Mr Tripathy said.
Boycotting courts
It may be noted here that the lawyers of Orissa High Court are boycotting courts for over a month now protesting against what they called “prevaricated statement of government functionaries over the issue” initially and later after the Chief Minister wrote a letter to the Union Law Minister recommending setting up permanent benches of the HC in south and west Odisha.
