Orissa HC Summons Dual ‘Antaryami Mishras’ Over 2023 Padma Shri Dispute

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has issued notices to two individuals sharing the name Antaryami Mishra, both of whom claim to be the rightful recipient of the 2023 Padma Shri award. The court has directed both parties to appear on February 24 and present evidence supporting their respective claims.

On the official award list, “Antaryami Mishra” from Odisha is featured at the 56th position for his contributions to literature and education. One claimant, a journalist, has already traveled to New Delhi to receive the accolade from President Droupadi Murmu. However, Dr. Antaryami Mishra, a physician and accomplished author with 29 books in Odia and other Indian languages, filed a writ petition alleging that his namesake wrongfully claimed the award through impersonation. According to the doctor, the journalist lacks any published work, a fact he believes undermines the legitimacy of the claim.

During the hearing, Justice S K Panigrahi observed that despite a stringent verification process by the government, an unfortunate mix-up due to identical names had occurred, thereby raising concerns over the credibility of the award selection. The court has mandated that both claimants appear in person, accompanied by all pertinent publications and documents, to substantiate their assertions. Notices have also been sent to the respondents, including the Union of India.

The petitioner stated, “I have authored more than 30 books, and the Government of India recognized my contributions by declaring me as a Padma Shri awardee on January 25, 2023. I later discovered that another person with my name had gone to New Delhi to claim the award.” The case now awaits further proceedings as the court seeks clarity on the matter to ensure the integrity of the national honor.