Nat’l recognition for Netaji: HC sets Apr 16 deadline for Centre’s reply

Cuttack: Orissa high court on Wednesday fixed Apr 16 as the deadline for the Centre to file an affidavit in response to a PIL that had sought the declaration of Subhas Chandra Bose as a national son, his birthday as a national day and the conversion of his birthplace into a national museum.
The petition, filed by Pinakpani Mohanty of Cuttack on Jan 20, also sought declassification of transfer to power agreement of 1947 and Intelligence Bureau secret files related to Netaji as well as direction for acceptance of the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry report.
When the PIL came up for hearing on Wednesday, central govt counsel J Panda prayed for extension by four weeks, to file the affidavit.
The two-judge bench of Acting Chief Justice Arindam Sinha and Justice V Narasingh said, "Time to file the affidavit is extended. It will be accepted on the adjourned date upon advance copy served. List on Apr 16, 2025."