Questioning the inaction of the State Government authorities in conducting a free and fair investigation into the Dana Majhi case and prosecution thereafter, a public interest litigation (PIl) has been filed at the Orissa High Court (HC) seeking an impartial probe.
Human rights activist Subash Mohapatra has filed the PIl pleading the court to direct the State authorities or else impartial agency to investigate the matter and complete the same within a stipulated time frame.
The petitioner has made the Home Secretary, Kalahandi Collector-cum-District Magistrate, SP, CDMO amd Bhawanipatna Town Police station officer party in the case.
Mohapatra alleged that the Kalahandi district administration violated the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act by threatening and not providing basic facilities to Dana Majhi, who had to walk 10km with his wife’s body on shoulders after he was allegedly denied an ambulance.
Mohapatra, in his petition, mentioned that district administration should have acted sensibly and not forced him to come to Bhawanipatna to meet the Collector and the CDMO on the fourth day of her wife’s death, which violates the SC and ST (Prevention of atrocity) Act and the Rules made there under.
He said the district authorities have willfully and deliberately neglected their duties, attempted to whitewash the evidence and abused Dana Majhi and his daughter.