Orissa High Court
Satyendranath Praharaj vs State Of Odisha And Others …. Opposite … on 14 March, 2026
Author: M.S. Raman
Bench: Murahari Sri Raman
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
W.P. (C) No.12428 of 2025
Satyendranath Praharaj .... Petitioner
Mr.Jnyanananda Panda, Advocate
-versus-
State of Odisha and others .... Opposite Parties
Mr.Manmaya Kumar Dash, Addl. Standing Counsel
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN
ORDER
14.03.2026
Order No.
03. 1. The petitioner has approached this Court in the instant writ
petition with the following prayer:
“It is, therefore, humbly prayed that this
Hon’ble may graciously be pleased to issue Rule NISI,
calling upon the Opp. Parties to show cause as to why
the action of the Opp. Parties shall not be declared
illegal and as to why appropriate direction shall not
be given to sanction and disburse the compensation
amount pursuant to order dated 10.12.2013 of the
learned Civil Judge (Sr. Divn.) Dharamgarh in
M.J.C. No. 53 of 2004 within a stipulated time period
fixed by this Hon’ble Court and on perusal of causes
shown if any or upon insufficient causes shown make
the said Rule absolute;
And pass such other order/orders,
direction/directions as this Hon’ble Court may deem
fit and proper in the circumstances of the case;
And for this act of kindness the petitioner
shall as in duty bound ever pray.”
2. It is submitted by Mr.Jnyanananda Panda, learned
Advocate appearing for the petitioner that against the judgment
dated 10.12.2013 passed in M.J.C.No.53 of 2004 by the learned
Page 1 of 3
Civil Judge (Senior Division), Dharamgarh, the petitioner has
preferred this writ petition with prayer for grant of above relief.
3. Mr.Manmaya Kumar Dash, learned Addl. Standing
Counsel submitted that though instructions are sought for from the
officer concerned to inform whether the State preferred any land
acquisition appeal, no information has yet been received. However,
he conceded that on the basis of the nature of prayer(s) made in the
instant writ petition, the same can be disposed of in the light of the
decision of this Cout vide order dated 20.08.2024 passed in W.P.(C)
No.18958 of 2024 (Madan Naik and others Vs. State of Odisha and
others).
4. Having perused the above cited order, Mr.Panda, learned
Advocate for the petitioner submitted that in the light of the
aforesaid decision, this matter can be disposed of.
5. The order dated 20.08.2024 passed in W.P.(C) No.18958
of 2024 reads thus:
“1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid
arrangement (video conferencing/physical mode).
2. Petitioners in this writ petition seek for direction
to opposite party Nos. 1 and 2, i.e., Secretary to
Government, Water Resources Department,
Bhubaneswar and Director (R&R)-cum-Addl.
Secretary, Department of Water Resources,
Bhubaneswar to sanction and release the awarded
amount in favour of them for acquisition of land for
construction of Upper Indravati Irrigation Project as
per the judgment dated 09.10.2018 passed by the
learned Civil Judge (Sr.Divn.), Dharmgarh in LAR
No.113 of 2017, within a stipulated time.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that
petitioners have filed application under Section 18 of
the L.A. Act for higher compensation, which was
referred to Civil Court for adjudication. The Civil
Court registered it as LAR No.113 of 2017 and same
was disposed of on 09.10.2018 and higherPage 2 of 3
compensation was awarded. However no action has
been taken as yet for sanction and disbursement of the
compensation amount. He further submitted that a
similar writ petition bearing W.P.(C) No. 31649 of
2020 has been disposed of on 26.11.2020 directing
opposite party No.1 to sanction the amount at an
early stage and to take expeditious step for
disbursement of the compensation amount. He also
submitted that the present writ petition may be
disposed of in terms of the order passed in that writ
petition. Learned Addl. Government Advocate has
also no objection to the aforesaid submission made by
learned counsel for the petitioners.
5. In view of the above, we dispose of the writ petition
with a direction to opposite party No.1 to sanction the
amount at an early stage and thereafter the opposite
party No.3-Special Land Acquisition Officer, Upper
Indravati Irrigation Project, Kusumkhunti in the
district of Kalahandi shall take expeditious step for
disbursement of the compensation amount by end of
October, 2024, if there is no other impediment.
Issue urgent certified copy as per rules.”
6. As conceded by learned counsel for both sides, the instant
writ petition is disposed of in the light of the decision in the case of
Madan Naik (supra), and, accordingly disbursal of the awarded
amount as fixed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Dharamgarh on 10th Decembmer, 2013 in M.J.C. No.53 of 2004
shall be made by the competent authority by the end of June, 2026,
if there is no other impediment.
7. The writ petition is, thus, disposed of.
(M.S. Raman, J.)
Signature Not Verified st
1 National Lok Adalat
Digitally Signed
Signed by: BICHITRANANDA SAHOO
Designation: Secretary
Reason: Authentication
Location: Orissa High Court, Cuttack
Bichi
Date: 14-Mar-2026 16:22:04
Page 3 of 3
