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Anti-displacement leader lashes out at State government

BHUBANESWAR: Anti-displacement leader Chakradhar Hybru (Junior) on Thursday told the State government that slapping of Rs. 1 lakh penalty by holding him responsible for a road blockade that led to death of one person was “illegal.”

Responding to initiation of certificate proceeding, Mr. Hybru through his counsel submitted a reply with Jajpur district certificate officer Renubala Nayak.

It was for the first time in the history of the State , when a person was asked to pay Rs. 1 lakh for a road blockade.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice B.P. Das and Justice M. M. Das on October 3, 2007 had allowed the State government to recover the said amount from those who were involved in blocking National Highway 200.

Following the judgment, Jajpur district administration had initiated a certificate proceeding against Mr. Hybru, former secretary of Bisthapan Birodhi Janmanch (BBJ) which was spearheading anti-displacement movement in Kalinga Nagar, an upcoming steel hub of the country.

The administration had warned that his property would be attached if he failed to submit Rs. 1 lakh.

“The State government has misconstrued the above judgment of the High Court while initiating certificate proceeding against Mr. Hybru.

The High Court has never directed any specific person (in particular the name of the petitioner) who is liable for payment of such compensation,” said Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, counsel of Mr. Hybru, said.

He said, “Mr. Hybru is totally unaware of the fact that as to how the whole amount (fine) was assessed against him as a public demand even though it is shown from the judgment that there are many people present in the road blockade.”

Mr. Hybru had already filed a writ petition in High Court challenging the issuance of “notice’ and the “certificate of public demand” against him.

“That the certificate proceeding was initiated against the petitioner whimsically with an ulterior motive forgetting the fundamental principles,” Mr. Tripathy said. The former BBJ leader prayed that the certificate case filed against him should be set aside.

The anti-displacement leader had since gone into hiding evading police arrest. State police have filed several cases against Mr. Hybru including his involvement in naxalite activities.

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