The 48- hour "Maha Bandh" called by the lawyers in Odisha has hit the normal life in the western region of the state.
Following the lawyer's agitation that started on Thursday normal life came to a halt in the region due to the shutdown. The lawyers are demanding the establishment of a permanent bench of Odisha High Court in the western Odisha region.
"Maha-Bandh" and "Rail-Roko" call has been given by the Central Action Committee of All Western Odisha Bar Association. The various lawyer's associations of different districts of the state joined the two-day shutdown to press the Centre for the constitution of a permanent bench of Odisha High Court in the region.
Due to the "Maha-Bandh" government offices, markets, shops and educational institutions remained closed while some examinations scheduled for Thursday were also postponed.
Vehicular movement was severely affected in the region. Many trains too were cancelled and routes of several trains were diverted.
The seat of the Odisha High Court is in Cuttack but Bar Associations have demanded that a bench should be established in Western Odisha also.