Ganjam Bar Association lawyers seek interim report on HC Benches

Through a protest rally in Berhampur city lawyers of Ganjam Bar Association (GBA) demanded that the State government impress upon the Justice C.R.Pal Commission the need to file an interim report. This motor cycle rally was led by president of the GBA Sisir Padhi and its secretary Jyoti Chhotray. Members of the Ganjam Bar Association also started boycott of court during last four days of a month for the demand of establishment of a permanent Bench of Orissa High Court in the city.

It may be noted that in February 2008 Orissa government had set up this single-member judicial commission to go into the demands for permanent benches of Orissa High Court in South and Western Orissa. For long lawyers in Berhampur and Sambalpur have been demanding setting up of permanent benches of the High Court in their areas.

Large-scale agitation by the lawyers at these places compelled the State government to set up this commission. Lawyers of the Ganjam Bar Association, Berhampur were critical of the delay in filing of report by the commission. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a statement in the Orissa Assembly had announced that the duration of the Justice Pal Commission would be six months. But it is yet to furnish its report although its tenure has got extended several times.

The GBA wanted the State government not to extend the tenure of the commission any more. ‘It is high time the Commission came up with an interim report,” Mr Chhotray said. Delay in filing of report was reducing faith of public in the real intention behind the setting of this Commission, the agitating lawyers said. This Commission had to collect information and data from Orissa High Court, different district offices, Bar Associations and different forums to come up with a report regarding the feasibility of demands for establishment of High Court Benches in Berhampur and Sambalpur.

Mr Chhotray alleged that delay in furnishing of report by the Justice pal Commission was leading to frustration among lawyers and general public. It also hints at lack of commitment of the Chief Minister, he added. A single-member commission was constituted in February 2008 to go into the demands for High Court Benches