According to the complainant, her “husband” is at present living in Bhubaneshwar with his second “wife,” who is a daughter of a minister in the Naveen Patnaik’s government. Issuing a bailable warrant against Durga Charan Hansdah, Grade B officer with Chief Manager’s office at Bhubaneshwar, Justice S N Aggarwal recently asked Hansdah to appear before him on January 22, the next date of hearing.

“Despite repeated orders, the respondent (Hansadah) has failed to appear before the court...It is directed that the presence of Hansdah be secured before the next date of hearing through a bailable warrant against him for Rs 5,000,” Justice Aggarwal said in the order.

Appearing for the complainant, her counsel R K Saini said she married Hansdah in Delhi in 1982 according to Hindu rites and customs. After the marriage, Hansdah along with his wife shifted to Bangalore and the couple was blessed with a baby girl in 1984. However, the baby did not survive more than 10 days, Saini submitted before the court.

The complainant’s counsel contended that soon after the baby’s death, Hansdah, who also belongs to the scheduled tribes, started neglecting her and as a result she was returned to Delhi. Claiming that this court has the jurisdiction to hear the case as the marriage took place in Delhi, Saini said that it was in 1986 that his client came to know about her husband’s second marriage with another tribal woman in Orissa.

Seeking a compensation, the complainant’s counsel said that the Sessions Court in 1997 had framed charges against Hansdah for bigamy.