Paradip, June 19: Government officials here find themselves on a sticky wicket for revealing the identity of a few HIV-AIDS victims.

The exposure made by Rajnagar block administration has sparked off a controversy even as some of the infected persons have decided to seek judicial intervention.

Rajnagar block officials recently released the list of 49 beneficiaries for free housing scheme under Mo Kudia Yojana. The list contained the name of six HIV-AIDS victims. The beneficiaries’ list was displayed on a notice board.

A human rights activist said that an HIV-AIDS victim had every right to conceal his or her disorder because of the stigma and discrimination attached to it. Thus it was arbitrary and unethical to reveal the identity of such infected persons. “HIV-positive persons can suppress their identity and use pseudonyms to protect themselves from discrimination. The Supreme Court has also ruled in favour of it,” said Biraja Prasad Pati, an activist involved in AIDS eradication programme.

Rajnagar block development officer Rajendra Narayan Pradhan admitted to the lapse on the part of the block administration.

“It’s a slip-up committed inadvertently. We have struck off the HIV infected persons’ names from the list of beneficiaries,” he said.

Afraid of stigma if their identity was revealed, many HIV-AIDS victims have shied away from receiving governmental doles such as the monthly pension scheme.