‘Madhu Barrister Would Have Hanged His Head In Shame’: Orissa HC Criticizes Conduct Of Striking Lawyers Of Sambalpur, Grants Bail

The Orissa High Court has heavily criticized the unruly conducts of striking lawyers of Sambalpur while they staged a violent protest in December last year with a demand to establish a permanent Bench of the High Court in the western part of the State. It is by sheer providence that the judicial officers and staff of the Court did not suffer any serious injury.” The High Court was hearing the bail applications of lawyers, including that of Sambalpur Bar Association President Sureswar Mishra, who were arrested in the aftermath of violent protests in the district of Sambalpur which was convened in the name of ‘Satyagraha’ on 12th December, 2022. Before considering merits of the aforesaid submissions, Justice Narasingh reminded the petitioners of their duty as lawyers by quoting the following immortal words of legendary Constitutional expert and former Advocate General of Maharashtra Hormasji Maneckji Seervai: “Lawyers ought to know that at least as long as lawful redress is available to aggrieved lawyers, there is no justification for lawyers to join in an illegal conspiracy to commit a gross, criminal contempt of court, thereby striking at the heart of the liberty conferred on every person by our Constitution. The principle is that those who have duties to discharge in a court of justice are protected by the law and are shielded by the law to discharge those duties, the advocates in return have duty to protect the courts….” He went ahead to remind the unruly lawyers of the high-values held by the first Barrister of Odisha Utkal Gouraba Madhusudan Das and said, “Birthday of grand old man of Odisha Madhusudan Das popularly known as Madhu Barrister is celebrated every year in this State on 28th of April as “Lawyers Day”. PLR Projects Ltd. Before concluding the order, the Court expressed hope that the liberty extended to the petitioners will not be misused and said, “…this Court fervently hopes that the petitioners by their conduct on release will justify the trust reposed in them and shall not do anything overtly and/or covertly which would undermine the majesty of law.” Case Title: Sureswar Mishra v. State of Odisha Case No.