Congress urges CM to restore normalcy in courts, schools

Opposition Congress Tuesday urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to restore normalcy in judicial courts, schools, colleges and government offices as layers, teachers and employees were "on strike" for several days over different reasons.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik said it is the responsibility of the state government to restore normalcy in courts by resolving problems of striking lawyers.

The lawyers of Orissa High Court are on strike for last 25-days demanding arrest or policemen allegedly involved in beating a lawyer in Cuttack. In some parts of the state, lawyers are also on strike demanding establishment of permanent bench of the High Court, the OPCC president said.

The Congress leader said that employees at the Heads of Department are also on strike since 39 days.

"In all the cases, the state government has not taken adequate measures to resolve the problems and therefore, the strike continues for long time. The normal functioning of courts, schools, colleges and government offices have been severely affected," Niranjan Patnaik said.

The OPCC president in a statement said "It is moral, political as well as administrative responsibility of the chief minister to maintain normalcy in all institutions.