In a unique legal twist, the Orissa High Court has summoned two individuals named Antaryami Mishra, both asserting to have rightfully received the Padma Shri award in 2023. The court has scheduled a hearing for February 24 to unravel this intriguing case of mistaken identity.
The controversy began after the Padma Shri awardee list for 2023 listed ‘Shri Antaryami Mishra’ of Odisha at the 56th position, recognized for his contributions to literature and education. The accolade was purportedly claimed and received in New Delhi by one Antaryami Mishra, a journalist by profession, presented by President Droupadi Murmu.
The plot thickened when Dr. Antaryami Mishra, a physician, approached the high court alleging that the journalist had impersonated him to receive the award. In his writ petition, Dr. Mishra claimed authorship of 29 books in Odia and other Indian languages, which he argued merited his inclusion in the list of awardees, unlike his namesake, who he claimed has not authored any books.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Justice S.K. Panigrahi noted the occurrence of this mix-up despite the government’s rigorous verification processes, highlighting concerns about the credibility of the award selection procedure.
