The Bar Council of India (BCI) has called for an urgent Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into the brutal killing of Odisha advocate Pitabas Panda, who was shot dead near his Berhampur residence on October 6 by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle.
Panda, a member of the Odisha State Bar Council and reportedly associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was gunned down in what the BCI described as “a grave assault on the rule of law.”
In a strongly worded statement, the BCI condemned the murder and pressed the Odisha government to constitute an SIT led by a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, independent of local jurisdiction. The council demanded a “time-bound, uncompromised” investigation ensuring the arrest of all perpetrators, conspirators, and facilitators involved.
“The safety and dignity of advocates are non-negotiable,” the BCI said, urging comprehensive protection for Panda’s family and witnesses linked to the case. It called the killing of a senior lawyer and bar representative not just a personal tragedy but a “systemic attack on the legal fraternity.”
The council further pushed for swift prosecution, urging the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor, timely filing of the charge sheet, and a fast-tracked trial before a designated court. It emphasized adherence to the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018—ensuring secure transport, confidentiality, relocation if required, and CCTV surveillance in court complexes.
Beyond the immediate case, the BCI demanded a statewide review of security protocols for advocates. It proposed a 48-hour deadline for the government to issue a security advisory and establish a helpline for lawyer-related threats. The council also called for CCTV installation in all court and bar premises, a risk audit for bar leaders, and coordination between Superintendents of Police and local Bar Associations.
Lastly, it urged the State to offer ex gratia compensation to the bereaved family and consider compassionate appointments for the next of kin, declaring that the loss of an advocate in service to justice “must not go unanswered.”
