The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court here on Wednesday rejected top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda’s petition seeking permission for availing an Aadhaar Card in his Nayagarh address.
Panda, an under-trial prisoner, was produced before the court in connection with his alleged role in supply of illegal weapons. Witness ASI Haribandhu Das answered some questions posed by Panda’s lawyer Deepak Pattnaik. later, Pattnaik submitted a petition in the court informing that a letter for issue of an Aadhaar Card has come to Panda’s Nayagarah residence and it was his fundamental right to get the card to be issued by the Central Government.
The lawyer prayed that necessary directives be issued to the local administration to depute someone to the jail with required instruments to collect the thumb impression and accurate eye vision of Panda for the purpose. Though initially the court had accepted the petition, later it rejected it on the ground that Nayagarah district doesn’t come under its jurisdiction.
Government Advocate Sanjib Kumar Patra pleaded that an under-trial doesn’t mandatorily avail all fundamental rights as per jail norms. Dissatisfied over the court’s decision, Panda’s lawyer said his client would make an appeal to the higher court against the order to get justice. According to information, Panda’s witnesses would be examined again on December 22.