Orissa HC summons two claimants with same name in Padma Shri award row
Cuttack (Odisha) (PTI): The Orissa High Court has issued notices to two persons with the same name, both of whom claimed to have been conferred the Padma Shri award in 2023, to appear before it to present their case on February 24.
On the Padma Shri awardee's list of 2023, the name 'Shri Antaryami Mishra' of Odisha appeared in the 56th position, to be honoured for his contribution to literature and education.
One Antaryami Mishra, who is a journalist by profession, has gone to New Delhi and received the award from President Droupadi Murmu.
Later, Dr Antaryami Mishra, a physician, moved the high court claiming that his namesake got the award by impersonating him.
Filing a writ petition, the doctor claimed that he authored 29 books in Odia and other Indian languages, leading to his name being included in the Padma Shri awardee list of 2023. According to the petitioner, the journalist has no book to his credit.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice S K Panigrahi observed that despite the rigorous verification process by the government, a mix-up had occurred due to identical names, raising concerns over the credibility of the selection process.
The court has directed both claimants to be physically present along with all publications and materials to substantiate their claims.
Notices have also been issued to the respondents, including the Union of India, on the matter.
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Woman Police Commissioner goes undercover to assess women's safety in Hyderabad
Hyderabad (PTI): Soon after taking over as Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B Sumathi went undercover and took up a field visit after midnight on May 1 to assess law and order, including women's safety.
Sumathi assumed charge as the Malkajgiri Police Commissioner on May 1.
On the same night, the senior IPS officer, in plainclothes, moved through the streets of Dilsukhnagar here, standing alone for some time to get a first-hand knowledge of law and order situation, official sources said on Wednesday.
"It was a general checking and she later interacted with police officials," they said.
The sources said about 30-40 individuals who approached her were counselled regarding their behaviour towards women in public places.
Sumathi, who earlier headed the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), of the Telangana Police, oversaw the long drawn process of the Maoists joining the mainstream.
