Odisha man approaches High Court seeking permission to consume 60 gm ‘Opium’ daily

In an unusual case, a 65-year-old man from Odisha’s Khordha approached the Orissa High Court seeking permission to legally procure a higher quantity of opium for daily consumption. The petitioner Ramchandra Senapati has been addicted to opium since his youth, and claims that his current allotment of 40 grams per day is no longer sufficient, and hence he sought permission for 60 grams per day.

According to case details, Senapati has been an opium addict for decades and cannot sleep, eat, or function without consuming it. With increasing age, his dependency has also intensified. In earlier years, he consumed 15 grams, later 22 grams, and now requires at least 40 grams daily. Based on medical recommendations, the Excise Department has granted him a special identification card and provided controlled quantities of opium.

However, Senapati has now requested to increase his daily quota from 40 grams to 60 grams, stating that the current supply is ‘insufficient’ for his physical condition. Since the Excise Department cannot legally provide more than the approved limit, he has knocked on the doors of the High Court seeking relief.

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“Tears will flow from my eyes, and I will suffer from a cough. There will be pain, and I won’t be able to walk. So, I will go away somewhere. But I cannot live without it. I’m trying to eat ‘tobacco’, but my body is asking for Opium. Otherwise, I will die. There is no other way out,” claimed Senapati. 

The High Court, after taking note of the petition, has reportedly advised that Senapati undergo de-addiction treatment, emphasizing that dependency on opium is harmful and long-term recovery is crucial. 

“He should be provided with proper treatment. He should also be given opium as per his need, along with the de-addiction process. The court has not given any timeframe, but has ordered to expedite it,” claimed Senapati’s lawyer Amlan Shakti Pal.