Lakshmi Satnami vs Alok Kar
2025 Latest Caselaw 5134 Ori

Orissa High Court

Lakshmi Satnami vs Alok Kar on 19 March, 2025

Author: S.K. Sahoo

Bench: S.K. Sahoo

                                    IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

                                                CONTC No.6294 of 2024

                                   Lakshmi Satnami                  .....           Petitioner

                                                                 Mr. Bijaya Kumar Behera-1
                                                                 Advocate
                                                                 -versus-
                                   1. Alok Kar, Director
                                   (R & R) & Ex-Officio,
                                   Additional Secretary to
                                   Govt., Department of
                                   Water Resources,
                                   Odisha, Bhubaneswar
                                   2. Kalu Majhi, Special
                                   Land Acquisition
                                   Officer, Lower Indra
                                   Irrigation Project,
                                   Khariar, Nuapada                  .....        Contemnors/
                                                                                  Opp. Parties
                                                                 Mr. Jateswar Nayak,
                                                                 Addl. Govt. Advocate
                                                             CORAM:
                                       THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO
                                    THE HON'BLE MISS JUSTICE SAVITRI RATHO

                                                             ORDER

  Order No.                                                19.03.2025
               02.                       This     matter    is    taken      up   through    Hybrid

arrangement (video conferencing/physical mode).

Heard.

Designation: Senior Stenographer

The petitioner, Lakshmi Satnami has filed this ORISSA, CUTTACK Date: 20-Mar-2025 12:58:56

contempt petition as the contemnors/opposite parties have flouted the order dated 17.05.2024 passed in

W.P.(C) No.12324 of 2024, wherein direction was issued to the Land Acquisition Officer, Lower Indra Irrigation Project, Khariar, Nuapada, contemnor/opp. party no.2 to dispose of the L.A.R. Case No.32 of 2007 in accordance with law within a period of three months from the date of production of the certified copy of the order and if the application under section 28-A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is allowed, then the compensation amount be disbursed to the petitioner within a period of two months thereafter.

As per the order dated 21.11.2024, learned counsel for the State has received instructions from the contemnor/opp. party no.1 dated 15.01.2025, which is taken on record. The relevant portion of the instructions is as follows:

"I am directed to convey the sanction of the payment Rs.17,18,756/- (seventeen lakhs eighteen thousand seven hundred fifty six) only towards the decretal dues u/s 28(A) of the L.A. Act, 1894 in favour of Bhoka Satanami of the village- Pendrawan under Lower Indra Irrigation Project, Khariar, Nuapada for Ac.1.38 dec. of land considering the application of Lakshmi Satnami at par with the judgment dtd.16.05.2023 passed by the Senior Civil Judge, Nuapada in L.A.R. No.32 of 2007 (Sukmati Majhi & others -Vs- Spl. LA & RRO, LIIP, Khariar, Nuapada)."

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the amount, which has been sanctioned by the

contemnor/opp. party no.1 is at a lower side and the petitioner may be granted liberty to challenge the sanctioned amount before the appropriate authority.

In view of the above development, the contempt petition stands dropped granting liberty to the petitioner to challenge the sanctioned amount before the appropriate authority.

Issue urgent certified copy as per Rules.

( S.K. Sahoo) Judge

(Savitri Ratho) Judge Sipun