Odisha: Orphan kids petition Prez over court summon for father’s unpaid loan

Kuchinda: Two parentless minor boys today appealed to President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention after they were dragged to court by State Bank of India (SBI) over an unpaid personal loan, which was previously availed by their father identified as late Bidhu Bhusan Puta of Phalsapadar village under Tusura police limits of Bolangir district.

The minor boys recently appeared before a local court in connection with a settlement of the loan.

According to a source, Bidhu Bhusan died of Covid-19 on July 1, 2020, when the two kids were around eight and four years old, respectively, leaving them in helpless condition in the care of their mother. Unfortunately, their mother Sumita Puta also died of the viral disease around a year later on August 4, 2021. This was followed by the demise of their paternal grandfather, who was predeceased by their paternal grandmother. There was nobody in the family to look after the two children.

The maternal grandfather of the two minors Sarathi Dharua (72) is a sick man. However, he had then taken the kids with him to his house in Kenadhipa village under Laida police limits of Sambalpur.

While passing through tough times in the house of their maternal grandfather and reading in the village school, they earlier received a summon from the court of Civil Judge in Bargarh in Civil Suit No-308 of 2022 for an appearance to settle the personal loan. The suit has been filed by SBI Manager of the Bargarh branch for recovery of Rs 4,99,570 said to have been borrowed by their late father.

Notably, views of the SBI Bargarh branch authorities over this issue could not be obtained.