'Govt not denied to set up a bench of HC in western region'

As the agitating lawyers of Western Odisha intensified stir demanding establishment of a permanent bench of the High Court in their region, Finance minister Prasanna Acharya today said the state government have not denied the idea.
"The state government can write a letter favouring establishment of a bench of the High Court in western region without waiting for the final report of the C R Pal Commission of Inquiry. The state government is ready to write to the Centre," Acharya, who represents Rairakhol segment in Sambalpur district in Western Odisha said.
Stating that the state government has not denied to accept the demands of the agitating lawyers, Acharya, one of the vice-presidents of the ruling BJD, said the government is not adverse to establishment of more High Court benches in the state.

Acharya's statement came a day after the talk between the agitating lawyers and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik failed to break the deadlock on the ongoing strike in the 10 western Odisha districts. All the government offices and judicial courts remained closed since August 20 as the lawyers body, supported by all political parties, ensured no official and and judicial activities in the region.
The lawyers today staged demonstration before office of the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) at Sambalpur and launched relay hunger strike while opposition Congress activists blockade National Highway-53 for about 90 minutes supporting establishment of a high court bench in the western region.