Who is RTI Activist?

Who is RTI Activist?

Dear friends

After implementation  of Right to Information Act in 2005,  many  Social Activists, volunteers  and Anti-corruption crusaders  are  seen using RTI  to expose  corruption and maladministration  as well as to enforce transparency  in the administration.  The people who are using RTI extensively  and  carrying out campaign for effective implementation of RTI Act  in the  country are called as RTI Activists.

RTI Activism is debated and discussed much in public domain that too in mass media across the country.  Commitment of RTI  Activists to expose mega corruption and irregularities and maladministration in Govt.   has been widely acclaimed   by  different of section of  people across the country. Within short span of 12  years of implementation of RTI Act, more than 60  RTI Activists have been killed and hundreds of activists assaulted and false case and defamation case filed against them. Many of them are also languishing in jail. Such scenario has not taken place in any campaign on any law  in the country.

RTI Activist is defined as  someone who  seeks   varies of information  and  makes  it  available to the people  and  highlight same through mass media. They are people who are driven by passion and commitment and keen to share information more widely.  They not only disseminate information but daringly and vigorously purse the matter  to reach at logical end. With the information , they try their best  to fight out the issues relating to  the system by  organising public demonstration, filling cases  in courts  and raising the issues  through policymakers  in  appropriate forum, They are the people who see the need for change and improvement on a large scale inside the Government. RTI activism is not about how you look or the clothes you wear: the sine qua non of activism is doing. We feel it is more important to look at the actions being undertaken rather than how individuals define themselves.

Information Scientist Anthony Molaro coined the term ‘Information Activist’ in 2009 as  “An information activist is a vigorous advocate of knowledge gained through study, communication, research or instruction”

  For some Activism comes naturally, while for others, it’s something that comes as a result of problems they see or upon learning about something they passionately believe needs to change. Whatever the reason for wanting to become an RTI activist, the Activist pursue their cause relentlessly no matter their age, their means, or their background.  Their victimisation by the  Powerful and  History-sheeters  is obvious. But  it has not died out  their passion and vigour.  That is the beauty of an RTI Activist.

Regards

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-26.8.18

Directive issued to Authority of KISS Tribal School by CWC, Khurda

Directive issued  to  Authority of KISS  Tribal School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha  to comply within one month on the basis of  CWC Inquiry Report  in the matter of alleged torture of children living in KISS

Dear friends

Following the  complaint on  allegation of torture  of children living in KISS  tribal school by Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist on 17.4.17,  a joint Inquiry  Committee  comprising the members of  Child Welfare Committee, Khurda and District Child Protection Officer enquired into the matter on 19.6.2017.  on the basis of the enquiry report, Child Welfare Committee, Khurda has issued the following  direction dated 8.8.2017  to the authority of KISS Tribal school, Patia, Bhubaneswar to comply  within month.  No doubt, this is a biggest  achievement of Subas Mohapatra and his greatest contribution to save the tribal  children  from  hunger and  malnutrition.

Major issues in respect of  violation of right of tribal  children  in KISS Tribal school  identified by CWC, Khurda is as follows

1.       It  is astonishing  that KISS Tribal School  is not recognised by Tribal Welfare Deptt.  Of Govt. of Odisha till yet.

2.       The Institute only accommodates poor tribal children. Academic proficiency  is not a criterion for selection. 

3.       The children are living as internees of the school hostel.

4.       No Govt. authority other than education Dept.  Inspects the activities of KISS.  

5.       There are no sufficient toilet available for huge number of children  living in the hostel. Hence children are suffering.

6.       The living space of the children are too congested  for the children  to live comfortably. Hence the Hostel rooms are found over-crowded.  Rooms are not cross-ventilated. Some single beds are shared by  two children.

7.       The living rooms are found untidy, stinky and unhygienic as these are over-crowded.

8.       Children are not given freedom to play  even to watch the games except a few selected  children  who participate in outside games.

9.       Small size sanitary napkins are provided to the adolescent girls as a result the older girls feel uncomfortable.

10.    Staffing pattern is too less to manage such  a huge crowd of children. For 400 children, there are only 2 supervisory staff.  On the other hand the staff are  not found  to be trained  on child rights and  child protection.

11.   There is no  grievance redressal  mechanism in the hostel. No complaint Box. Hence  the grievances  of the children are found not heard properly.

12.   Since there are may  children especially adolescents are living together, they have to have many issues  which need to be addressed  by the case worker/ counsellor. But the institution has not appointed any such staff.

13.    Though the management explained  that  the children’s health check up  is conducted  prior to admission and there is a separate hospital for the children. But in practice there is no sick room adjoined  to the hostels to accommodate the sick children.

14.   Children eat “chuda” and sugar  everyday at 7 am. After that they take  a meal and go to the school.  They come back  from school at 4 pm. They eat rice & curry  at night. No menu  chart followed.  Repetition of food menu and monotonous diet  is given to the children. Huge gap between two meals is observed. Due to insufficient nutrition , the children are  found undernourished  and anaemic. 

15.   There are several instances of children running away from  the institution  due to poor grievance redressal mechanism . Many times the run away children are produced before WC and the committee has noticed that no FIR is lodged by the authority.  Though the Child Welfare Committee has issued notice to the KISS authority to appear and explain about the reasons of runaway and non-reporting about the fact to the police. But the authority of KISS never cares to appear.

Directives  to  KISS Tribal School by CWC, Khurda

1.       First of all it is necessary for the institution  to get recognition  from the Dept. of Tribal Welfare. So that  the government people  can inspect  the institution  and give proper advise  to improve standard of care.  They will be responsible  for any deficiency  of standard of care. Hence, the KISS Authority is to apply  to the Dept. of  Tribal welfare , Govt. of Odisha  in a month  time to obtain necessary  recognition. At least a set of guidelines  may be  issued  to the institution  to maintain standard of care  of the children  and to address grievances  of the children.

2.       Since the institution has accomodated  some children  in need of care  and protection, it needs to be recognised  by the Deptt. Of W and CD  under JJ Act.  This would help the  government officials of JJ system  to verify  standard of care  and to see whether  all rights  to the children  are ensured. Hence  the KISS Authority  is to apply  in specific form  to Khorda district  administration  within a month  time  to issue  certificate  of recognition  u/s 41 of Juvenile Justice  ( care  and prortection  of children) Act 2015.

3.       All  the children  who come  under the purview of  “ child in need  and protection”  under section 2 (14)  of the JJ Act  are to be identified  and be produced  before CEC, Khurda  as per  section 31 of the Act  with proper background report in one month time.

4.       The inquiry  committee  realised that  within the existing  infrastructure, it is not proper to accommodate such a huge  number of children . Hence either  the number of children  shound be reduced  or necessary  infrastructure  should  be developed  to meet the needs of the  children  as per ICPS norms.  The institution  shall submit  an action plan report in the matter to this committee within one month time.

5.       The guideliens for ensuring a child safe environment  in institutions where children are housed  and /or  study  issued  by the Dept. of Women and Child Development , Govt. of Odisha  vide notification  No. 13626 dated 23.8.2014  is to be mandatorily  followed  by the Institution and be monitored  by the District Administration / education authority. All the provisions  laid down  under this guidelines  shall be  complied  by the institution  within one month  tome so that  safety of the children  can be ensured.

6.        The inmate should be provided  with necessary toilets  and bathroom services for their  comfortable  living as it is their right.  An action plan report in this regard  shall be submitted  to this  committee  within a month time.

7.       In view of accomodation of huge number of children, this committee feels that  there shall be at least a proper  Child Protection Policy  in the institution  as a safety mechansim  for the children.  Hence,  the KISS  authority  shall publish  a clear ChILD Protection Policy  document  in the institution  which shall be  read and signed  by all the people  working in the institution  withina month period.

Comments

1.    While passing direction, CWC, Khurda  has ignored  or bypaased major issued  relating  to  violation of right of the children.  For example,  in its enquiry report, CWC has mentioned that  “Children eat “chuda” and sugar  everyday at 7 am. After that they take  a meal and go to the school.  They come back  from school at 4 pm. They eat rice & curry  at night. No menu  chart followed.  Repetition of food menu and monotonous diet  is given to the children. Huge gap between two meals is observed. Due to insufficient nutrition , the children are  found undernourished  and anaemic.”  But   CWC has not made  any  direction  to KISS  authority to ensure nutritious  food to the children. This is the biggest violation of right to food of the children.

2.    CWC  has not come out with any direction KISS Authority  about  enforcing grievance redressal  mechansim  in the institution.

16.   CWC has not made any specific  direction  about problem of run-away children from KISS tribal school.  Because ,  despite  notice issued  by  Child Welfare Committee to  the KISS authority to appear and explain about the reasons of runaway and non-reporting about the fact to the police,  the authority of KISS never cares to appear.

Story  does not end  here. Myself  and Subas Mohapatra  will  go for follow up  and monitor  how CWC order was  complied  by KISS Authrity  through use of RTI  and expose true character of Achyut Samant.

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 24.8.17

NGT order is defied by State Govt. to protect illegality of Achyut Samant

Corrupt bureaucrats of Odisha ignored order of NGT and allowed  Achyut Samant to enjoy forest land illegally acquired by him

This is rule of Law of Nabin Patnaik , Chief Minister, Odisha  who received  Outlook Speakout  best Administrator Award

Dear friends

18.8.17 was the fourt-time of hearing of Case by National Green Tribunal, Kalkatta about  Original Application No. 92/2016/EZ & M.A. NO. 157/2017/EZ filed  by Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist  for  recovery of 18 acres of  forest land illegally acquired  by Achyut Samant in Patia area of Bhubaneswar, capital city of Odisha. Sri  Samant is the notorious land-grabber in Odisha.

 It deserves to be mentioned here that Sri Achyut Samant  has acquired  illegally and through fraudlent means around 100 acres of land in Chandaka Industrial area and  Pathargadia area.  Achyut Samant  has acquired recorded  amount of land  and topped the list of land grabbers of Bhubaneswar. It  has been possible with tacit support from  corrupt BJD leaders, MLAs, MPs and third grade bureaucrats of the state who claims educated  having sound academic career under Nabin Patnaik regime.

On 21^st March 2017, while  hearing the case, National Green Tribunal  has given direction  to both Forest and Environment Department  and Revenue and Disaster Management and Chief Secretary to  demarcate  and acquire the land and undertake  fencing around the land which  has been illegally acquired  by Achyut Samant of KIIT.  It needs to be mentioned  here that on 10.7.2012, Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar  had issued eviction order to acquire the land. But astonishingly,  due to pressure  from  rulling class and top bureacrats  with whom Achyut Samant enjoys close relation,  that order  was not carried  out.  Now every body  should  think how our precious land  has been illegally acquired  by Achyut Samant  from day one , when  he started  his  education business  in Odisha.  In the meantine, Achyut Samant  has acquired  huge land  in different  district and  cophee jungle  in Koraput.

Odisha bureacrats   are seen constantly  ignoring  the order of Green Tribunal  since 21^st march 2017 and  bying  time again and again  through affidavit and  conspiring  to  save Achyut Samant. It can be well-imagined  how  Odisha bureacrats and BJD leaders  are destorying  Odisha  by  engineering all  corrupt practices and nuisances of Achyut Samant.

On 5^th July, 2017, NGT again issued  order to State Govt.  to  implement order dt. 21.3.17  and  demarcate the land  at the earliest and bring  back  the land.  In the meantime, RTI Application  was submitted  to  Dept. of Forest and Environment  and Dept. of Revenue and Disaster Managemement  to  get the information about details of Action Taken  on order of NGT.  The information supplied by the PIOs  is that Tahasildar , Bhubaneswar  has been  instructed  to  carry out demarcation.  But interestingly,  Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar does not care  order of higer authorities. Letter after letter is sent  to Tahasildar   with hidden agenda  to protect Achyut Samant. Can anybody  take it  granted or believe  that  a mere Tahasildar  will  dare to ignore order of  Chief Secretary and Revenue Secretary. This is all farce masterminded  by  corrupt bureacrats  with support from Chief Minister  to cheat the people and the court. 

On 18.8.17,  the State Govt.  has sought more time  in NGT to demarcate the land.  It shows State Govt. is prepared to acquire the land.  How illegalities and irregularities is being promoted  by Nabin Patnaik   who claims to be good administrator, non-corrupt  which is proved false.

However, NGT has fixed 3^rd Oct.  for hearing of the case.

Without bringing back  the land, the State bureacrats  in  connivance with Achyut Samant  has started  harrassing Subas Mohapatra  by filling false  case  in Kanas police station  of Puri  district  by engaging  his former wife . The Fact-finding team of Civil Society  has found it false and designed to demoralise Subas Mohapatra. Anybody  can imagine character of Achyut Samant how he can go to any extent  for his vestsed interest. Few fraud people are telling  that he is  a great social worker and educationist. But  he is basically fraud  and involved  in all third grade  inhuman  activities   which has been exposed  in Bajrakila News paper.

Srikant Pakal

RTI Activist, OSAA

M- 9338455092

Fact-finding Report on Alleged torture against Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist of Odisha

Fact-finding Report on Alleged Torture of Charulata Mohapatra  against Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist, Odisha

1.Background

On 7.8.17, in an impromptu Press meet organised in Bhubaneswar, capital city of Odisha,  Charulata Mohapatra, claimed to be wife of  Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist alleged  that Sri Mohapatra had married her following vedic rites and rituals on 29^th  January, 2003. After 15 days of marriage, he and his mother started torturing her and demanded more dowries from her parents. Subas carried her to Chhatisgarh and continuously tortured her   and after 3 months of marriage,  when she was pregnant, Subas sent her  back to her parental house. Since that period, he is not in touch with her. Though he is blessed with a girl, Subas has never come to meet his daughter. Charulata also further alleged that without divorce, Subas married another girl Akriti Das in Raipur.  That marriage also did not last. Akriti had filed a case in Raipur Mahila police station and Subas was also arrested during that time. In the meantime, Subas had third marriage and staying in Bhubaneswar with his wife and two children. Findinging very difficult to sort out the issues with Subas after long persuasion by her parents, Charulata filed maintenance case in Puri family court.  The Court has disposed the case and directed Subas Mohapatra, husband to pay  Rs. 3,000.00 per month. But Subas has been ignoring the order of the Family court. When she lodged complaint to local police station, Subas along with another unidentified person abused her with slang language  and threatened  to murder her, unless she withdrew the case.

Having heard the news about allegation of a lady against Subas Mohapatra,  a known Human Rights Activist, the Activists’ groups got astonished, expressed  their concern and  wanted to find out fact which prompted  to form a fact-finding team  for a thorough investigation into the whole episode.  

2.The Members of Fact-findIng Team

A.   Pradip Pradhan, RTI Activist, Team Leader

B.    Sri Sudhir Mohanty, Advocate, Odisha High Court

C.    Sri Ashok Nanda, Social Activist  

D.   Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi, Woman Activist

3. The issues before the Committee

a.    To ascertain the fact about allegation of torture made by Charulata Mohapatra against Subas Mohapatra.

b.    Circumstances or compulsion, if any leading to organise impromptu Press Meet by Charulata Mohapatra in Bhubaneswar on 7.8.17. 

c.     Timing and necessity of the Press Meet in Bhubaneswar and how it was thought of that  this Press Meet would help the  victim to get justice.

d.    Why FIR against Subas Mohapatra was filed in Kanas Police station on  7.8.17 at 9.50 PM after press meet when the incident occurred on 6.8.17 at 7 PM.  

e.    Involvement and interest of Mamata Samantaray of State Progressive Women Forum in this case.

f.     Exploring possibility of intervention of, if any required by Activist Group and taking stand on it.

4. Materials collected and relied  by the Team

a.    Copy of Press Release circulated in Press Meet organised by Mrs. Charulata Mohapatra on 7.8.17.

b.    Copy of Judgement of  District Judge court on Divorce petition of Subas Mohapatra,

c.     Copy of Judgement of Family Court on Petition of Maintenance filed by Charulata Mohapatra.

d.    Copy of FIR filed by Akriti Das, second wife  of  Subas Mohapatra wh ich was produced  by Mamata Samantara  and Basant Mohapatra,  father of Charulata Mohapatra.

e.    Proof Of  AirTicket  that Subas Mohapatra was in New Delhi

5. Persons interviewed

a.    Basant Mohapatra, Father of Charulata Mohapatra, victim

b.    Laxmipriya Mohapatra, Mother of Charulata Mohapatra

c.     Mamata Samantaray, Chairperson, State Progressive Women’s Forum , Bhubaneswar  who helped  Charulata to organise press meet in Bhubaneswar

d.    Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist  against whom allegation has been made.

e.     Some villagers accompanied the Team during their visit  to residence of Mrs Charulata Mohapatra.

6. About Subas Mohapatara

As we know,  Subas Mohapatra  is a leading Human Rights Activist working on human rights issues  since few years. He belongs to Kalamati, a village under Gadishagada police station of Kanas block of Puri district.  Presently, he is working as Convener, National Campaign for Ending Corporate Abuse.  He has filed a lot of cases  of human rights violation in National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commission  and UN Bodies.  Recently Sri Mohapatra has come to limelight  and drawn attention of  public  due  to  his filing  of Case no. 92/2016/EZ in National Green Tribunal, Kolkata against Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology  ( KIIT) and Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS), and its founder Achyut Samant for illegally grabbing precious forest land  in Bhubaneswar  and obtained order of NGT  on 21^st March 2017  to State Govt. to  demarcate  and acquire the land and undertake  fencing around the land.  It deserves to be mentioned here that As per CAG Report, more than 100 acres of land has been allotted  to KIIT by Dept. of General Administration and IDCO, Bhubaneswar. Leasing out of 82 acres of land is illegal and acquired by Achyut Samant through fraudulent means. Besides that,  as per RTI information, Sri Samant has also acquired  around 30 acres of forest land  illegally  without any permission  from Dept. of  Forest and Environment ,  Revenue and Disaster Management Dept. of Govt. of Odisha  and Ministry  of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India.  Secondly, Sri Mohapatra has also filed another case Writ Petition Case No. 12392/2016 and Misc. case 13575/2017 in Odisha High Court against Sri Nabin Patnaik, Chief Minister and President, Biju Janata Dal for using Hawala money   during election.  Hearing the case, the High Court has already issued notice to Election Commission of India to enquire into the allegation against Sri Nabin Patnaik.  BJD team quite disturbed over the allegation and case filed by Subas Mohapatra in High Court.  Since day 1 of  filling of case, both Nabin Patnaik,   Chief Minister   and Achyut Samant,  founder, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology      (KIIT)   and their coterie  are trying hard to conspire and demoralise  Subas Mohapatra  by booking    him  on false case or take any extreme  step against him  which  was reflected  in a national TV Live discussion  in which Pinaki Mishra, MP openly  threatened  him of dire consequence.

7. Visit of Fact-finding Team

In this backdrop, on 14.8.17, the 4-member Fact-finding Team visited Kanas block headquarter to meet Charulata Mohapatra, wife of Subas Mohapatra. After reaching in their home, the Team briefed the parents of Charulata  Mohapatra  about purpose of their visit  and wanted to meet her. Intitally, we were told that  Charulata would meet us  and later on  the parents said that she had gone to Bhubaneswar. The Team could not get opportunity to meet Charulata. However, her parents responded all the queries of the Team and shared details of information about incident of disturbance, conflict, suffering of her daughter, pain and agony experienced by them since 13 years  etc.  The gist of discussion with parents of Charulata Sri Basant Moapatra, father and Laxmipriya Nayak, Mother  is as follows.

“ This was arranged marriage and solemnised  on 29^th  January, 2003.  Prior to marriage,  the parents were appraised  that  their groom  is highly educated and working  in NGO in Chhatisgarh.  Subas  had demanded  dowry of Rs. 1 lakh.  Basant Mohapatra had given  Rs. 70,000.00 and assured him to give rest amount   Rs. 30,000.00 after arrangement. After 15 days of marriage, Subas started torturing her wife Charulata to get rest of dowry money.  Smt.  Charulata returned back to her home. However, Basant Mohapatra, father-in-law   gave rest amount by selling landed property and sent her daughter to father-in-law’s house. After few days, Subas Mohapatra, son-in-law started again torturing her. Finally she returned back to home. At that time, she was pregnant. Since then,  Charularata  had not  gone to her in-law’s house.  However, the parents of Charulata and their family members have taken several attempts to resolve the issue and pursued Subas for amicable settlements, but in vain.”   At last,  after eight years,  Charulata filed  an FIR  of physical  torture, harassment and dowry torture  against Subas Mohapatra in  Gadishagada police station under Kanas Block  in 2011 ( Case No.-15/2011 dated 14.2.2011. The case was registered under section 494,109, 406, 498 of IPC. Subas was arrested by police and forwarded to jail.  

The team members were presented few documents along with Court order.  While reviewing the Court order, the Team members found that that Subas Mohapatra had filed a divorce petition case no. 418/2003 on 4.6.2003 in the court of S.D.J.M., Puri  which was rejected on 10.4.2007.  Then Subas filed Appeal petition case No. RAF 54/2007 which was rejected by District Court   on 25.10.2013.  So the Court has not accepted the divorce petition of Subas Mohapatra. Charulata still enjoys the status of wife of Subas Mohapatra.  On the other hand, Charulata has filed a Maintenance case No. CRP-29/2011 on 14.2.2011. The Family Court, while disposing the case on 15.9.2011, directed   Subas Mohapatra to pay maintenance at the rate of Rs. 3,000.00 per month    to Charulata Mohapatra and his daughter from the date of filling of the petition i.e., 14.2.2011.  The fact is  Smt. Charulata as   the legal wife of  Sri Subas Mohapatra is  undisputed  in the eye of law today.

From another document, it was also observed that Subas had married another girl named Akriti Das, D/O- Nilakantha Das of Raipur.  That marriage also could not last.  When Akriti came to know that Subas  was  having wife and a daughter, she got enraged  and filed FIR in Raipur Mahila Police station on 12.12.2008. The case was registered as case No. 41/2008 under section 498(1) and 506 of IPC. There was another case filed in Rajendra Nagar police station in 2009.  Arrest warrant was also issued against Subas during that time.  Though the Team members tried to know the status of the case, the family could not provide any documents. However, while ending the discussion with the parents of Charulata Mohapatra, the Team members assured them to provide support, in case anything required in order to give her justice. 

The Team were also appraised about FIR lodged against Subas Mohapatra   in Kanas Police station. The Team members visited Kanas Police station at around 3.30 pm and enquired about the case.  The Assistant Sub-Inspector said that an FIR   had been filed  by Charulata Mohapatra on 7.8.17 at 9.50 PM.  The content of the FIR is that On 6.8.17,   While Charulata  was on her wayback to her house  in Kanas market in the evening at 7 PM, Motor-byke borne Subas Mohapatra along with an unidentified youth  obstructed and  abused her with slang langage and threatened  her to murder at gun point, unless she withdrew the case.  The police has registered the case  under section 341,323,294,354,506,494 of IPC and  34 of Arms Act. The police has started investigation.  The Team members    hovered over  if the incidence took place on 6^th August, 2017 at 7 pm, why the FIR  was not  immediately  filed when  Kanas police station is just  half km away  from her house.  Secondly, why Charulata suddenly organised  Press Meet on 7.8.17. In the press release, she has mentioned  about the incidence of threats  given by Subas  on 6.8.17 at 7 PM and  FIR  is filed  in Gadishagada police station in this regard. It means  that the place of occurrence of incidence   is under PS  Gadishagada  which is the police station  of Subas Mohapatra. But as per record available, FIR was practically  filed in Kanas Police station on 7.8.17 at 9.50 pm after she returned  to home finishing press meet in Bhubaneswar.

7. Meeting with Mamata Samantaray, President, SPWF, Odisha

On the way back to Bhubaneswar from Kanas, the Team  met Mamata Samantaray in her residence  at 5 PM.   Mamata was appraised  about the purpose of  meeting of the Team members. Mamata  was asked the following few  questions.

·      How Mamata came into  contact  with Charulata Mohapatra, wife of Subas Mohapatra

·      Timing of the  Press Meet   which was organised  in Bhubaneswar  to highlight  a 13 year old case.  

·        What benefit   you and Charulata  were  expecting  from Press Meet.

·      How the Press Meet  would help  Charulata to get justice.

Mamata said that  her organisation  is a state-level  organisation having  its membership base  in every block of the state, mostly from among  SHG leaders.  The women leaders  of  Kanas block  of Puri district had appraised  this matter  several times and  sought her support  to give justice to Charulata. That’s why she had organised   the press meet.  On query about how the Press meet helped her to get justice, she could not respond properly. Rather she continued to talk emotionally, describing harassment and problem confronted by Charulata   which was not our  cup of tea. On query about what type of justice she was expecting from Press Meet when all the court judgements are in favour of Charulata, Mamata could not respond effectively. Rather she told that she only created space for Charulata  to speak to press and was unaware  about details.

8. Response  from Subas Mohapatra, Human Rights Activist and Husband of Charulata Mohapatra

As Sri Subas  Mohapatra claims  staying in New Delhi,  some  clarification and  response of Subas Mohapatra was sought   through E-mail. The following questions were sought from  Sri Mohapatra.  

a.    Response about allegation and charges levelled by Charulata Mohapatra, his wife against him  and reason  of divorce, non-payment of maintenance  to her wife.

b.     Authenticity  about his threats to Charulata Mohapatra on 6.8.17 at Kanas Market

c.     Allegation  of second marriage to Akriti  Das  of Raipur

d.    Has he challenged in apex court the judgement of rejection of Divorce petition by District Court and Family Court order on maintenance cost. 

Subas responded to our query letter through e-mail and provided some documents. He shared copy of FIR filed in Kanas Police station dated 13.8.17 and copy of online acknowledgement receipt of FIR by Kanas police station. It was found from content of FIR that Subas Mohapatra had filed FIR in Kanas Police station against Charulata Mohapatra and others.  A copy of FIR and acknowledgement receipt of FIR by Kanas Police station is attached. Subas denied allegation of making physical attack on Charulata Mohapatra  of Kanas/ Gadishagada  and said that  he was in Delhi on the date of alleged incident.  He has also provided copy of boarding pass from Delhi to Srinagar on 1.8.17 and   return   from Srinagar to New Delhi on 5.8.17 claiming to be on journalistic assignment from Cobra Post.  He has sent family photograph of claiming that to be of  Akriti Das / Akriti Shukla. He says that he has challenged district court order at higher level but  has not sent any supportive document in this regard.

Our findings

A.   It is fact that Subas Mohapatra had married Charulata Mohapatra and filed divorce petition in 2003 in the court. The document revealed that Sri Mohapatra  has not yet responded  court order in respect of maintenance as well as divorce. Smt. Charulata has every right to fight out the case in order to get justice.  She should continue  to fight this case. We are of the view that law should take its own course to a logical conclusion in this regard. All possible remedies  may be taken to safeguard the interest of Smt. Charulata.

B.    In the press release distributed in the press meet, it is mentioned that  Subas   threatened her  to murder at gunpoint  to withdraw the case on 6.8.17  at 7 PM  in Kanas Market.  In fact,  there is no such case pending  against  Subas Mohapatra  in any court. The judgement of two  courts i.e., District Judge Court and Family Court, Puri  is in favour of Charulata.  So  it seems this is a manufactured story   and a ploy  to  harass  and defame Subas Mohapatra.

C.    While addressing press meet organised on 7.8.17,  Smt. Charulata  had said that  After threats of attack, she had filed FIR in  Gadishagada police station.  But   FIR  has been filed  in Kanas police station  on 7.8.17  at 9.50 pm after finishing press meet.  We are of the view that it is a false   and fabricated case to demoralise and harass Subas Mohapatra.

D.   The Press Meet is an arranged one to demoralise Subas Mohapatra  and or other RTI Activists  those are  fighting  against corruption in administration and Achyut Samant of KIIT  disclosing illegalities  of powerful people  in the state.

E.     When  a person , irrespective of his or her family problem is fighting against  Sri Nabin Patnaik, all powerful Chief Minister and  Sri Achyut Samant , a biggest land grabber , he or she  should not  be demoralised  by way of filling of false case   and threats of arrest. We are  with Subas  Mohapatra  in his  fight  against Nabin Patnaik, Chief Minister, Odisha  and Achyut Samant, a man masterminded  all types of illegalities  in the state.

F.    We  are of  the view that   RTI Activists and Human Rights Activists  who are facing similar kind of harassment and  threats from State power or vested  groups like Achyut Samant, biggest  land grabber   must be  provided all supports  and encouraged  to  carry  their mission in the greater interest of the state.  Because during Nabin Patnaik regime, the economy of the state has been disastrous.  The socio-economic condition of the common people has been devastating. Odisha still stands as poorest state in the country. When opposition political parties have failed to discharge their duties, RTI Activists and Human Rights Activists  have shouldered the responsibility  to  save the state  from clutches  of Mining mafia, land mafia  and  corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. The people of Odisha must stand behind them.

Pradip Pradhan                                                                                                                 Ashok Nanda

RTI Activist                                                                                                                         Social Activist

M-9937843482                                                                                                                   M- 9437005133                                                 

Sudhir Mohanty                                                                                                               Sanjukta Panigrahi

Advocate, Odisha High Court                                                                                     Woman Activist

M-9861063290                                                                                                                   M- 9238598756

Date of  Release of Report: 22.8.17