OAS strike brings public services to a halt in Twin City

The sub-registrar office in the state capital wore a rather deserted look on Thursday, with people returning with disappointment writ large on their faces, thanks to the strike by OAS and ORS officers of the state.

- ASISH MEHTA/ARABINDA PANDA @Bhubaneswar/Cuttack

Pramod Behera, a native of Puri district, arrived for his younger brother's marriage registration but had to return empty-handed. Hundreds of people faced the same fate as the protesting officers refused to work until their demands were met, said notary Subhash Chandra Mahapatra.

Advocate Chandan Kumar Mishra put things in perspective. "More than seven clients of mine had to return today due to the mass leave by OAS and ORS officers. Essential services like marriage registration, name change, Aadhaar corrections, land demarcation, issuance of legal heir certificate and others have been severely affected due to the officers' protest," he said.