Lawyers Block NH at Malatipatapur Opposing Proposed Relocation of Puri Court

Puri: Vehicular movement on a key stretch of National Highway at Malatipatapur in Odisha’s Puri district was disrupted on Friday after members of the Puri Bar Association staged a road blockade to protest the proposed relocation of the Puri court near the Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary area.

Hundreds of lawyers sat on the busy highway, bringing traffic to a standstill. Vehicles travelling to and from Puri remained stranded for several hours, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.

Bar Association Secretary Sarat Rayguru said the protest would continue till 3 pm. He informed that the association has been observing a satyagraha for the past 350 days in opposition to the relocation plan. Alleging that the administration failed to respond to their demands, the lawyers decided to intensify their agitation by resorting to a highway blockade.

According to reports, around five acres of land at Balukhand have been handed over to the Law Department for the construction of the proposed court building. The protesting lawyers claimed that the land falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone and is part of eco-sensitive and freshwater zones, where construction activities are restricted.

Demanding reconsideration of the relocation plan, the lawyers asserted that any construction in such areas would violate environmental norms and adversely impact the fragile ecosystem.