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HC stays ban order on NGOs in Kandhamal district

CUTTACK: In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court has slapped an interim stay on the operation of the ban order imposed by Kandhamal district administration restraining NGOs, religious and charitable organizations in providing relief to the affected people of the strife-torn areas of the district, which witnessed communal violence during Christmas celebrations three months ago. The stay order came earlier this week when a bench of the HC comprising Chief Justice A.K. Ganguly and Justice B. N. Mohapatra took cognizance of a PIL filed by Orissa chapter of All India Christian Council challenging the government order. “However, in the matter of distribution of relief materials, all parties involved therein should maintain law and order, "the HC clarified.

Issuing notice to the Government counsel to obtain instructions from the State Government over the matter, the bench posted the case to be heard next on April 3.

Challenging the impugned circular of the district Collector passed on January 11, the petition had questioned the legality, rationality and reasonability of the order. It said the blanket ban on NGOs in carrying out relief operation for the victims is inhumane, unreasonable and arbitrary.

“Relief by the Government agencies were highly inadequate and do not cover all basic necessities of the victims. Moreover, the Government’s directives to NGOs to provide relief to all the 1,000 affected families through the district Red Cross branch is chauvinistic”, the petition said. It termed it “highhandedness” of the authorities.

Earlier, the Collector issued the circular apprehending that giving relief to one community would create ill-feeling among other community and thereby disturb the peace and harmony of the area.

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