State Of Odisha & Others vs Srikanta Roul
2023 Latest Caselaw 14705 Ori

                IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
                               W.A. No.518 of 2023

State of Odisha & Others                 .....                         Appellants
                                                   Mr. Rabi Narayan Mishra, AGA
                                         Vs.
Srikanta Roul                            .....                         Respondents

                                                     Mr. P.K. Mohapatra, Advocate
                CORAM:
                    ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE DR. B.R. SARANGI
                    MR. JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN

                                            ORDER

15.11.2023 W.A. No.518 of 2023 & I.A. No.1300 of 2023

Order No. This matter is taken up by hybrid mode.

02.

2. This application has been filed for condonation of delay of 159 days in preferring the Writ Appeal.

3. Heard Mr. R.N. Mishra, learned Addl. Government Advocate appearing for the State-Appellants and Mr. P.K. Mohapatra, learned counsel appearing for the Respondent.

4. As it appears, the order impugned has been passed on 08.09.2022 and the writ appeal has been filed on 16.03.2023 and in the meantime more than five months have passed. Therefore, the appeal suffers from delay and laches. Further, it appears that sufficient cause has not been shown to condone the delay of 159 days in preferring the writ appeal. That apart, no due diligence has been indicated in the petition in preferring the writ appeal. Further, on merit also, it is contended by the learned counsel for the respondent No.1 that the order dated 10.03.2011 passed in a similar matter by the Orissa Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack Bench, Cuttack in O.A. No.3665(C) of 2001 has been confirmed by the Division Bench of this Court vide order dated 19.04.2022 passed in W.P.(C) No.21611 of 2011 and the same has been affirmed by

the Apex Court vide order dated 14.12.2022 passed in Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No(s).36299 of 2022.

5. In the above view of the matter, this Court is not inclined to entertain the writ appeal at this belated stage, as the same suffers from delay and laches, in view of the judgment/order of this Court in the case of State of Odisha v. Surama Manjari Das (W.P.(C) No. 15763 of 2021 dismissed on 16.07.2021), which has been confirmed by the apex Court, vide order dated 05.04.2023 in S.L.P.(C) Diary No. 9259 of 2023.

6. Accordingly, the interlocutory application merits no consideration and the same is hereby dismissed. Consequentially, the writ appeal is also dismissed.

(DR. B.R. SARANGI) ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE

(M.S. RAMAN) JUDGE Laxmikant

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: LAXMIKANT MOHAPATRA Designation: Senior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK Date: 16-Nov-2023 10:26:14