The Orissa High Court has allowed an additional month’s time to the State Government to file its counter in response to a PIL filed by a social activist of Mahanga of Cuttack district alleging that the Government has shown “discriminatory” attitude in according due honour in cases of deaths of dignitaries or persons, who have had occupied important Constitutional posts during their lifetimes.
Debendra Kumar Sahoo, president of Mahanga Swabhiman Manch and secretary of ‘Budhhayan’, a Budhhist Cultural body, in his petition has alleged that the Government did not accord “State Honour” to former Assembly Speaker, former Minister and former MP Sarat Kumar Kar, who passed away on September 12 this year.
Kar’s body was cremated at the Satyanagar crematorium in Bhubaneswar. The after-death protocol for dignitaries was not observed in the case of Kar, the petitioner said, alleging that the Government adopted a discriminatory and negligent attitude during his treatment, death and cremation.
The Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice CR Dash allowing the time plea of the Government, has fixed December 16 for the next hearing of the petition.