Orissa High Court: In a writ petition seeking a direction to the Union of India for clarification regarding the candidature for the “Padma Shri Award” which is in dispute between the present petitioner and the respondent 2 (Padma Shri Awardee) who has been accused of impersonating the present petitioner, the Bench of Dr. SK Panigrahi, J. allowed the petition and issued notice.
The Court directed both the parties to produce all relevant publications and materials before the Court to substantiate their respective claims regarding the conferment of the Padma Shri Award.
The petitioner’s case was that he is a Doctor and an Odia Litterateur. He has authored 29 books in Odia and in other Indian languages, and in recognition to his contributions to literature, his name was included in the Padma Shri Awardee list which was declared in 2023.
The Padma Shri Awardee who bears the same name is a journalist by profession and that he fraudulently secured the Padma Shri Award for 2023 by impersonating the petitioner.
The Court issued notice to the Union and the Padma Shri Awardee. The Court noted that it was surprising that, despite the State Government playing a key role in the verification process and various paraphernalia being followed before the Padma Shri Award is declared, yet such type of claim and counterclaim kind of situation arose just because the names were identical.
The Court stated that Padma Shri is a great recognition conferred on persons for their distinguished service in various fields. Hence, the Court directed both the parties to remain physically present before the Court on 24-02-2025, at 2 P.M.
[Antaryami Mishra v. Union of India, W.P.(C) No.9971 of 2023, decided on: 11-02-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the petitioner: Advocate S. A. Swain
For the respondent: DSGI P. K. Parhi; D. Gochhayat, CGC