PTI
 
Bhubaneswar, May 20: The administration on Saturday banned the 500-km, 11-day walk from June 6 from the Orissa capital to Kolkata by child runner Budhia Singh planned by his mentor, Biranchi Das.

The ban was slapped by the Khurda district Child Welfare Committee, a quasi-judicial body, which has been entrusted by the Orissa High Court to keep an eye on six-year-old Budhia, after the government approached it.

The government had disallowed the boy from running marathons following his run from Puri to Bhubaneswar in May 2006, which had stirred controversy.

CWC secretary R S Mishra told PTI, "The committee has imposed a ban on the use of the child (Budhia) in the walk. Notice has been sent to the Budhia Singh Trust."

"If this direction is violated, all members of the BST would expose themselves to legal action," he said.

The committee also decided to summon Biranchi Das, to appear before it for questioning.

Mishra said the idea of making the child walk at the height of summer was difficult to accept and it was a question of a violation of human rights as well.

"The question arises as to whether the event was for the child's benefit," he said.