'Women lawyers can ensure justice for women'
BhubaneswarBy Abhishek Mohanty): International Women’s Day was celebrated at Pantha Nivas in Bhubaneswar under the joint aegis of the All Women’s Advocate Forum and the Akhil Bharatiya Sanyukta Advocates Forum.
The programme was chaired by advocate Harapriya Samantaray, president of the forum.
Speaking as the chief guest, High Court Judge Justice Shashikant Mishra said that women are often more capable and suitable to deliver justice in cases involving women, which can help ensure that women receive proper justice.
Chief speaker Sitanshu Mohan Dwivedi, President of the State Bar Council, said that women entered the legal profession due to the efforts of Madhubabu.
He also noted that the All Women’s Advocate Forum had demanded reservation for women lawyers in elections.
Following the request submitted to the State Bar Council president, the demand was later placed before the Supreme Court through the All India association, and the proposal is likely to be implemented.
Dr. Dharitri Pattnaik, founder of Hamara Bachpan, attended as guest of honour and spoke on women’s empowerment and development.
During the event, several personalities were honoured with the Atal Karmaveer Award in memory of late Shantipriya Pattnaik. The awardees included women advocates Chhaya Mishra, Dipti Rekhanand, Pratibha Das, Rutupurna Mohanty and Sweta Sharma, along with Bhopal MP Anita Singh. Social worker Mrutyunjay Mishra, music director Laxmikant Palit, singer Umesh Chandra Das and advocate Lingaraj Sahoo were also honoured.
Similarly, Dr. Trupti Pati, Dr. Gita Manjari Behera, Mamata Mohanty, Dr. Swayamprabha Mohanty, Swagatika Samal, Sasmita Mohanty, Jyotirmayi Panda and Gitanjali Mohapatra were felicitated as “Jagatjita Nari”.
Sixteen individuals were also honoured as Youth Achievers, and several women lawyers were felicitated.
The programme was coordinated by Ankita, while Bishnupriya Prusti delivered the vote of thanks.
Senior advocates including Prashant Ranjan Pattnaik, Santosh Choudhury and Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty, joint secretary of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association, along with many other lawyers, attended the event.
Odissi dance performances by children added colour to the occasion.
