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Orissa HC asks Centre to redeem Netaji's name

In a significant order, the Orissa High Court has asked the Union government to take appropriate steps to have Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's name deleted from the list of war criminals being maintained by the Government of the United Kingdom.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice S N Phukan and Justice Arijit Pasayat passed the order yesterday while disposing of a public-interest litigation filed by Dr Shyam Sunder Mohapatra, a former parliamentarian from Balasore.

Dr Mohapatra contended that though 50 years had passed since Independence, India had at no point of time taken any step or urged the British government to delete Netaji's name from its list of war criminals recorded after World War II.

Since national heroes like Netaji are the symbol of a country's prestige, the government should endeavour to protect the dignity and public image of such leaders, he said in his petition.

Directing the senior standing counsel of the Centre, who was present in the court, to take appropriate action on the petition, the division bench observed that the Union government should take up the matter with the British government.

The court, however, did not pass any remark or order on Dr Mohapatra's prayer for a direction to the Centre to produce all documents and records relating to the cause of Netaji's death.

UNI

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