Sambalpur Lawyers’ Protest: BJP MPs Hold Odisha Govt Responsible

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs from Odisha said the state government is fully responsible for what Sambalpur witnessed on December 12 and the subsequent suspension of 43 layers’ licenses.

Addressing a press meet on Friday, five BJP MPs from Odisha alleged that the state government is responsible for violence during the protest on December 12 and the subsequent suspension of 43 layers’ licenses.

“Now with the suspension of licenses of 43 lawyers, how the court will function?” asked MP Suresh Pujari.

“We have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, seeking his intervention to bring back normalcy and stop the arrest of advocates,” said Pujari.

“Had the Chief Minister answered the letter of the Union Law Minister and submitted a detailed proposal after conferring with the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and the Governor, such a situation wouldn’t have happened. The Supreme Court has pronounced its judgment but the duty of the State government doesn’t end there. It is the State government who is to give healing touch,” said Pujari.

“The delay and lack of commitment of the State Government of Odisha neither in holding consultation with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Odisha High Court and Hon’ble Governor of Odisha nor providing the Composite proposals sought by the Union Law Ministry has led to the present unpleasant law and order situation leading to the arrest of dozens of lawyers in Sambalpur and suspension of licenses of 43 odd lawyers for one and half year and suspension of the license of all the lawyers of Sambalpur Bar AssOciation till further order,” Pujari said in the letter.

“This has further precipitated the volatile situation and total collapse of the Court work of Sambalpur Judgeship due to the non-availability of local lawyers who are either in Judicial custody or their licenses have been suspended, creating very difficult situations for the poor litigants of the area. In view of the facts and circumstances as outlined above, the State Government being squarely responsible for the entire unfortunate incident, we demand that the State Government of Odisha must address the instant unprecedented situation without any further delay by releasing the arrested lawyers and taking up the matter with the Bar Council of India to revoke the suspension of licenses of the lawyers in the interest of the poor litigants as well as restoration of peace, tranquillity and conducive healthy atmosphere in the State of Odisha,” the letter to CM Naveen Patnaik mentioned.