Priya Ranjan Dash vs State Of Odisha And Others
2021 Latest Caselaw 11299 Ori

                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK


                                  W.A. No.186 of 2018



            Priya Ranjan Dash                         ....          Appellant
                                         Mr. Pitambar Acharya, Sr.Advocate
                                         & Mr. Sudarshan Nanda, Advocate

                                         -versus-

            State of Odisha and others              ...       Respondents
                                                   Mr. P.K. Muduli, AGA
                         Mr. D. Mohapatra, Advocate for Respondents 5 & 6

                       CORAM:
                       THE CHIEF JUSTICE
                       JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY


                                     ORDER

3.11.2021 Order No.

9. 1. Mr. P.K. Muduli, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for Respondents 1 to 4 seeks some more time to file a reply. It may be noted that today the Appellant has filed an additional affidavit enclosing the notings/note-sheet of the Department of Higher Education, Department of Finance etc. relevant to the issue on hand obtained through the Right to Information Act.

2. Mr. Acharya, learned Senior Counsel for the Appellant points out that the learned Single Judge disposed of the W.P.(C) No.1260 of 2018 filed by the present Appellant by the impugned judgment dated 22nd March, 2018 at the very first hearing without any

opportunity to any of the Opposite Parties to the writ petition to file a reply. He adds that prayer of the present Appellant for being fitted in higher pay scale in the post of Associate Professor is supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) which is Respondent No.7.

3. Mr. Mohapatra appearing for Utkal University (Respondent Nos.5 & 6) points out that University in fact recommended that the Appellant be granted higher scale of pay. He states that he will file an affidavit clearly indicating the stand of the University within four weeks.

4. Since no counter affidavit was filed before the learned Single Judge, the Court grants the State (Respondents No.1 to 4) a last opportunity to file a reply affidavit including a reply to the additional affidavit filed today by the Appellant, not later than four weeks from today. Rejoinder, if any, to the reply affidavit, be filed before the next date.

5. List on 18th January, 2022.

(Dr. S. Muralidhar) Chief Justice

( B.P. Routray) Judge

C.R. Biswal