Budhia can run long distance: Govt

Cuttack: Doing a U-turn on the Budhia Singh controversy, the Orissa government on Wednesday decided not to enforce any ban on the four-year-old long-distance runner for now.

The decision was taken after Budhia's coach, Biranchi Das, filed a contempt of court case against the Women and Child Welfare Minister, Pramila Mallick, and four officials in the Orissa High Court.

In his petition, Biranchi Das named Mallick, Secretary of the Department Mona Sharma, Chairman of the Khurda District Child Welfare Committee (CWC), RS Mishra, Deputy Superintendent of Police Durlav Chandra Singh and Inspector Incharge of Bargarh police station Jagannath Pradhan.

Das filed a contempt of court case against the government for banning Budhia from running long distances.

The government, which took the decision after a medical team warned of possible health hazards, has put the ban on hold.

"We are waiting for the High court and Child welfare committee's decision on this before we can make any announcement on the ban," Mona Sharma, Secretary, Woman and Child Welfare Department, said.

Budhia's coach said the medical check-up was forced on the wonder kid, inspite of the High Court's stay on any examinations.

Das is confident of a favourable verdict.

"The CM is with us and so is the sports council. I have full faith on the High court, whatever order the court gives I will abide by that," Das said.

Pointing out that the court had granted him interim protection following the proceedings initiated against him by the Khurda district of CWC, Das alleged the police came in three vans and dragged him and Budhia to the Capital Hospital for the boy's medical test on Sunday.

Das said he was never communicated about the medical tests earlier and charged those named in his petition had adopted this method to tarnish Budhia's image in public.

They had deliberately and wilfully violated the court order and thereby made themselves liable jointly and severally to be punished for disobedience of the court order, the petition alleged adding they were liable to be punished under the provisions of the Contempt of Court Act.

Das had first approached the High Court seeking that the summon issued to him by the CWC be quashed.

The court on April 13 stayed the execution of the summon and asked the government to file affidavit within one week stating under what circumstances the summon had been issued.

On May 4, the court ordered that the stay on execution of the summon should continue while directing the government to file affidavit by May 19.

With the filing of the case in the HC the legal battle between Budhia's coach and the Orissa government will take a new turn.

At the same time the public debate continues whether to or not to make Budhia run long distances.

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