IMPHAL, July 13: Hunger striker Irom Chanu Sharmila is likely to miss a court summon to appear before a metropolitan magistrate at Patiala House, New Delhi on July 17 owing to shortage of fund.
Sharmila is due to appear before the metropolitan court no. 6 New Delhi in connection with a case registered against her for holding a hunger strike demanding repeal of AFSPA at Jantar Mantar, in 2006 charging her of attempt to suicide.
The case registered against her by the Delhi police is FIR No.222/06 under IPC section 309 (attempt to suicide). Her last appearance before the court was on May 28, 2014.
Sources informed that due to the limited fund head reserved for Sharmila with the Jail department specifically for her travelling charges, the department had forwarded an ‘Excess Drawal Permission’ to the Home department to allocate necessary assistance.
However, it is learnt that the forwarded letter is still pending with the Home department, although it requires another approval from the Finance department before funds could be sanctioned.
It may be mentioned that a sum of Rs 1.38 lakhs is required for her Delhi trip.
The sum will also cover the expenses of the seven officials who will accompany Sharmila including two jail staff, two police personnel and three medical staff.
Further elaborating on the possibilities for Sharmila to miss the court trip, sources disclosed that the concerned department is also required to book flight tickets in advance, however, it can be done only after acquiring prior permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
It would be a third miss for Sharmila to attend a summon from the concerned court if the government fails to produce her again this time.
She missed similar summons, on January 30 last and again in the end of March this year.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/sharmila-likely-to-miss-patiala-court-appearance-again/