Cuttack, September 28, 2018: The Orissa High Court Bar Association on Friday announced that the ongoing strike would continue till October 3 despite the Supreme Court asking them to restrain from continuing strike.
Some agitating lawyers were also seen burning the effigy of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and Orissa HC Chief Justice KS Jhaveri alleging that the court passed the order without giving them a chance to present their views.
“Supreme Court has given the order without hearing us. Hence, we will not withdraw the strike. The cease-work strike will continue till Wednesday,” said High Court Bar Association secretary Satyabrat Mohanty after an emergency general body meeting of the advocates’ body to discuss the future course of action.
Mohanty, however, said that they will not shut down the Government offices near the High Court and other subordinate courts in the Cuttack city anymore.
Notably, on Thursday, in a major jolt to the striking lawyers High Court lawyers, the Supreme Court restrained directed Director General of Police (DGP) to transfer investigation of the lawyer’s assault case to the Crime Branch while restraining lawyers from continuing strike.
A division bench of CJI Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by one Delhi-based Abhijit Iyer Mitra who had moved the apex court stating that he was compelled to file the writ petition before it as his liberty was affected and he was unable to move Orissa HC due to the ongoing Bar Association’s strike arising out of police-lawyers conflict.
Earlier today protesting the SC order, the striking lawyers locked up the main gate of the High Court here and did not allow judges from entering the court premises.
The lawyers are on the strike since August 29 demanding arrest of the police personnel involved in attack on advocate Debi Prasad Patnaik on August 28 here.
Though two Constables – BK Samal and UK Bhuyan and a Havildar identified as PK Behera were suspended in connection with the attack, the lawyers are demanding arrest of the all police personnel involved in the assault case.
