Orissa HC Bar Association goes on “cease work” following arrest of former AG; Statewide call to be made tomorrow

Barely two days after the CBI arrested Odisha’s former Advocate General, lawyers in the Orissa High Court decided to abstain from court proceedings. The High Court Bar Association has decided to boycott court proceedings for the next two days, with a state-wide call for cessation of work to be made tomorrow..The protests come after the arrest of senior counsel Ashok Mohanty in, what the Bar Association has termed a “cavalier” manner. Speaking to Bar & Bench, Odisha State Bar Council member Bibhu Tripathy said that Mohanty’s arrest was completely unnecessary..“There was no reason to treat a senior advocate like a criminal. [Mohanty] was cooperating with the CBI, he was not tampering with any evidence. What was the reason to arrest him at all? At best, this is a civil dispute between two private parties, why should the CBI arrest him?.Tripathy was referring to a property transaction with one Pradip Sethy involving the purchase of a house. Sethy is currently undergoing investigation for a multi-crore scam through his company, Artha Tatwa..Tripathy also said that this was nothing but a publicity stunt by the investigating agency, and that the lawyers would not stand this affront to the dignity of a senior advocate. With lawyers in the High Court expected to refrain from courtrooms for the next two days, there is a possibility that this strike may spread to the entire state. The state bar council plans to place a statewide call for boycotting courts as a show of solidarity..The lawyers’ body is also contemplating legal action against the CBI although a formal decision in this regard has yet to be taken.