HC judge to supervise IGPs probe

The Orissa High Court Tuesday ordered that a sitting judge of the court will supervise on a day-to-day basis the investigation being conducted by crime branch IGP into the four criminal cases registered in August on the police-lawyer face off.

Justice C R Dash, a judge of this court, will supervise the investigation day-to-day and the investigating officer is directed to report to the concerned judge everyday to appraise the development of the investigation, said the order passed by a Bench headed by Chief Justice K S Jhaveri.

Crime Branch IGP Arun Bothra, who is on leave due to illness, has been ordered to carry out the investigation immediately after resumption of duty so as to complete the same before November 9, the day fixed for next hearing.

The Supreme Court in September had entrusted IGP Bothra to investigate the cases.

Meanwhile, the general body of the High Court Bar Association Tuesday decided to continue their two-month-long strike till Thursday when it will chalk out its further course of action after holding discussions with representatives of other bar associations of the state.

"As part of our earlier decision, the effigies of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, will be burnt on Wednesday across the state by all the 167 bar associations of the state in front of their respective association offices," said High Court Bar Association president, Srikant Kumar Naik.

The lawyers have been agitating since August 29 demanding arrest of two policemen, who allegedly assaulted a Cuttack-based lawyer on August 28.

The Orissa High Court Bar Association members Tuesday staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the high court.

Senior BJP leader and former minister, Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, who held a press meet in Bhubaneswar, slammed the chief minister accusing him of failing to resolve the prolonged lawyers issue which has now snowballed into a major controversy.

State Law minister Pratap Jena on the other hand said that the state government is concerned over the lawyers' agitation and is taking necessary steps in this regard.

Noting that the matter is sub-judice, Jena said the state government will take necessary steps as per the directions of the high court. The lawyers should call off their strike in the interest of the people as there is a delay in justice delivery, he said.

Commissioner of Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, Satyajit Mohanty said stringent action will be taken against those involved in the violence which took place following the clash between lawyers' groups on Monday.