IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.15996 of 2026 Mohammad Khalil …. Petitioner Mr. P. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- First Appellate Authority and …. Opposite Parties others Ms. B. K. Sahu, AGA W.P.(C) No.16548 of 2026 Farida Begum …. Petitioner Mr. P. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- First Appellate Authority and …. Opposite Parties others Ms. B. K. Sahu, AGA And W.P.(C) No.16551 of 2026 Sayed Idrees Ahmad …. Petitioner Mr. P. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- First Appellate Authority and …. Opposite Parties others Ms. B. K. Sahu, AGA CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK ORDER 30.06.2026 Order No. 01. 1. All the writ petitions are taken up together and disposed of by the following common order. 2. Heard learned counsels for the respective parties. Page 1 of 3 3. Instant writ petitions are filed by the petitioners for a direction to the opposite parties and in particular, opposite party No.3 to supply the information as per the applications dated 28th October, 2025 vide Annexure-1 taking into consideration Annexure-10 and the orders of the First Appellate Authority, namely, opposite party No.1 vide Annexure-5 on the grounds stated therein.

4. Mr. Mohanty, learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the information has been applied for as per Annexure-1 (in all the cases). The further submission is that the First Appellate Authority directed the PIO, namely, opposite party No.3 to supply such information as asked for in terms of Annexure-1 but it was denied vide Annexure-8. It is submitted by Mr. Mohanty, learned counsel that vide Annexure-10, opposite party No.3 was reminded to supply the information. Referring to Section 8(1)(b) of the RTI Act, where, such information was declined due to pendency of a proceeding in O.A No.43 of 2025 before the Waqf Tribunal, Cuttack, the further submission is that the orders of the First Appellate Authority and also the instructions as per Annexure-10 are only sought to be implemented at the behest of the petitioners. 5. Recorded the submission of Ms. Sahu, learned AGA for the State, according to whom, the orders are appealable. 6. But in view of the challenge to the decision of opposite party No.3 and there is a reminder vide Annexure-10 Page 2 of 3 consequent upon the orders in appeals at Annexure-5, this Court is of the view that Section 8(1)(b) of the RTI Act is no bar to supply the information as per Annexure-1 and therefore, opposite party No.3 could not have denied it vide Annexure-8 and therefore, such a decision liable to be interfered with and set aside. 7. Accordingly, it is ordered. 8. In the result, the writ petitions stand allowed.

Consequently, opposite party No.3 is hereby directed to supply the information as applied for by the petitioners in terms of Annexure-1 as soon as possible preferably within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 9. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge Rojina Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: ROJINA SAHOO Designation: Junior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: OHC, CTC Date: 02-Jul-2026 16:55:14 Page 3 of 3

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.15996 of 2026 Mohammad Khalil …. Petitioner Mr. P. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- First Appellate Authority and …. Opposite Parties others Ms. B. K. Sahu, AGA W.P.(C) No.16548 of 2026 Farida Begum …. Petitioner Mr. P. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- First Appellate Authority and …. Opposite Parties others Ms. B. K. Sahu, AGA And W.P.(C) No.16551 of 2026 Sayed Idrees Ahmad …. Petitioner Mr. P. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- First Appellate Authority and …. Opposite Parties others Ms. B. K. Sahu, AGA CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK ORDER 30.06.2026 Order No. 01. 1. All the writ petitions are taken up together and disposed of by the following common order. 2. Heard learned counsels for the respective parties. Page 1 of 3 3. Instant writ petitions are filed by the petitioners for a direction to the opposite parties and in particular, opposite party No.3 to supply the information as per the applications dated 28th October, 2025 vide Annexure-1 taking into consideration Annexure-10 and the orders of the First Appellate Authority, namely, opposite party No.1 vide Annexure-5 on the grounds stated therein.

4. Mr. Mohanty, learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the information has been applied for as per Annexure-1 (in all the cases). The further submission is that the First Appellate Authority directed the PIO, namely, opposite party No.3 to supply such information as asked for in terms of Annexure-1 but it was denied vide Annexure-8. It is submitted by Mr. Mohanty, learned counsel that vide Annexure-10, opposite party No.3 was reminded to supply the information. Referring to Section 8(1)(b) of the RTI Act, where, such information was declined due to pendency of a proceeding in O.A No.43 of 2025 before the Waqf Tribunal, Cuttack, the further submission is that the orders of the First Appellate Authority and also the instructions as per Annexure-10 are only sought to be implemented at the behest of the petitioners. 5. Recorded the submission of Ms. Sahu, learned AGA for the State, according to whom, the orders are appealable. 6. But in view of the challenge to the decision of opposite party No.3 and there is a reminder vide Annexure-10 Page 2 of 3 consequent upon the orders in appeals at Annexure-5, this Court is of the view that Section 8(1)(b) of the RTI Act is no bar to supply the information as per Annexure-1 and therefore, opposite party No.3 could not have denied it vide Annexure-8 and therefore, such a decision liable to be interfered with and set aside. 7. Accordingly, it is ordered. 8. In the result, the writ petitions stand allowed.

Consequently, opposite party No.3 is hereby directed to supply the information as applied for by the petitioners in terms of Annexure-1 as soon as possible preferably within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 9. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge Rojina Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: ROJINA SAHOO Designation: Junior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: OHC, CTC Date: 02-Jul-2026 16:55:14 Page 3 of 3