The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from the Centre and the Odisha government on a petition seeking to restrain the release of jailed Maoists in exchange for captive BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka.
A Bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Gyan Sudha Misra asked the respondents to file a reply within two weeks.
The Court initially expressed disinclination to issue any notices, but relented after counsel for Major General (retd) Gangurdep Bakshi persisted with the plea.
The petitioner submitted that already five Maoists had been released by the State government on Wednesday, to facilitate the release of the abducted MLA. Responding to questions, the counsel said that the bail applications for the release of the Maoists were moved on their behalf by their supporters and the State government chose not to oppose it. He submitted that the entire exercise was part of a collusion between the government and the Maoists.
At this stage the court remarked, “If that is so the scope of our interference is very limited. But you can go to the magistrate’s court and challenge it.”
However, the counsel persisted with the argument that at least notices be issued to the State and the Centre on the issue, following which the Bench relented.
Solicitor General Rohinton F. Nariman, who was present in the court, submitted that the petitioner’s plea for formulation of a law to tackle the insurgency by the Maoists was a larger issue and hence not relevant to the present crisis.
However, the Bench said since the Centre was a relevant party, it would like to issue notices to both the Central government and Odisha.
Mr. Hikaka was kidnapped on March 24 from Koraput district while returning home from a political meeting.
Saving life is primary duty of state and central government.Any cost to save one's life should be viewed as more valuable than the the issues between government and Maoists.
We, Indian Citizens, are paying to monthly salary to our servants
(from sweeper to president). As the living expenses are rocketing too
high, we are facing financial difficulties and poverty. Bosses are in
poverty and the servants are highly living in luxury. Our servant
president spent around 250millions to roam here and there and
thousands are taking huge salaries to sleep in the offices or making
fun! We have to decide to reduce or cut the salary of our servants,
immediately and I request you all to take this message seriously and
spread throughout the nation. Reduce salary of government employees
and public servants, now!
At last Hon'ble Apex Court should intervene in the larger public
interest so as to stop this drama created by the Odisha Govt and the
ruling BJD. If after all Odisha Govt concedes to the demands of the
ultras, then withdraw the police from Maoist affected area,leave it to
the ultras to rule so as to avoid any further blood-shed.
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