Lawyers renew demand for High Court Bench at Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Members of Ganjam Bar Association put forward their various demands before the Chief Justice of Orissa Justice V.Gopala Gowda through a memorandum. They handed over this memorandum to the Chief Justice during his visit to the city. A delegation of the bar association led by its president Sisir Padhi and secretary Jyoti Chhotray met justice Gowda and handed him the memorandum. Through the memorandum the bar association reiterated its demand for establishment of a permanent Bench of the High Court in Berhampur for the benefit of people of south Orissa.

Expressing concern over the ongoing agitations by lawyers for permanent high court benches in several places in Orissa, chief justice V Gopal Gowda urged the agitators to initiate talks to end the impasse. "Come to the talks table to try and solve your grievances amicably," Gowda told lawyers.The members of the Ganjam Bar Association here have been boycotting the courts in the last four days of the month for the past three years, demanding the establishment of the permanent bench of the state high court in Berhampur.

It may be noted that the members of the Ganjam Bar Association had taken up a long cease-work agitation for the same demand from December 4, 2007. The agitation had continued for 139 days. It had also led to lathi charge by the police on agitating lawyers on April 22, 2008 and more than 29 lawyers had been arrested. The lawyers had called off their strike in May 2008. Since then members of this bar association are continuing to press upon their demand through peaceful means.

They also wanted all vacant land near Berhampur court under the State Revenue department to be handed over to the Judicial Department. On this extra land new buildings could be built up to house other courts that are running in different areas of the city. They also demanded upgradation of furniture and amenities in the old court building of Berhampur. Members of Ganjam Bar Association also urged the Chief Justice to help them in upgrading their library. They wanted the existing library building of British era to be demolished and two-storied building to be built at the spot to house the new library.

Source: The Hindu, Times of India, OdishaToday