EU team’s proposed meeting in Kandhamal opposed
By IANSFriday, February 5, 2010
BHUBANESWAR - The proposed meeting of an 11-member European Union (EU) team with judges of a fast track court in Kandhamal was opposed by the lawyers association of the district Friday, leading to a cancellation of the visit.
“The EU team wanted to meet the judges of the fast track. A letter was issued by the district administration to the district judge in this regard. After we got to know that they are meeting the judges, we opposed it as it is unconstitutional to meet the judges,” said Saroj Pradhan, secretary of the Bar Association of Phulbani.
The lawyers association opposed it saying that it is inappropriate to meet the judges when Kandhamal riot cases are being heard there.
“We opposed it as it is direct interference in the judicial system. The cases are being heard in the fast track court. It’s not appropriate to meet the judges at this point and is considered interference in the judicial system which is an independent body,” P.K. Patra, president of the Phulbani Bar Association, told IANS.
After the opposition, the proposed meet with the judges has been cancelled.
Kandhamal, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23, 2008.
The state government has set up fast track courts to hear these cases.
The team comprises members from Spain, Hungary, Poland, Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Britain, and is led by EU’s counsellor (head of political affairs) Christophe Manet.
