Orissa High Court Bar on strike after sitting judge “mistakenly” raided by CBI

Members of the Orissa High Court Bar Association today resolved to cease work in protest against the raids recently conducted by a team identifying themselves as officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on sitting judge of the High Court, Justice CR Dash..According to sources, CBI officials arrived the residence of Justice Dash at 1 am today, and tried to forcefully enter the premises. When security guards asked the CBI officials for documentation, they were manhandled, and the CBI team tried to break open the gate of the judge’s residence..Later, the CBI officials realised that they had mistakenly arrived at the residence of the wrong person, and thereafter, exited the premises..In reaction to the incident, the High Court Bar Association held an extraordinary General Body meeting at 1 pm today, in which it was resolved that lawyers will boycott court work for one day. Another meeting is scheduled for 1:30 pm tomorrow to discuss the future course of action. The resolution states,.“Several members participating in the discussion expressed their grave concern over the said illegal and in-human disturbance created in the house of Hon’ble Justice Shri CR Dash, Hon’ble Judge, Orissa High Court.”.The Bar Association also resolved to approach Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court Justice Vineet Saran to demand a judicial inquiry into the incident. Lawyers bodies across Cuttack were called upon to support the boycott..Today, Chief Justice Saran summoned top police officials to his chamber, presumably to discuss the issue..Justice CR Dash was elevated as an additional judge of the Orissa High Court in 2009. He was previously the Registrar (Administration) of the High Court, and served as Chairman of the Orissa Sales Tax Tribunal prior to that. He is due to retire in 2024..Read the resolution:.Image taken from here..HT to @arpanigrahi