IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.1984 of 2026 Bhanumati Bag …. Petitioner Mr. A.C. Behera, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha & Others …. Opp. Parties Mrs. S. Pattanayak, AGA CORAM: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH ORDER Order No. 10.07.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Parties. 2. By means of this application, the Petitioner seeks for the following relief:- “Therefore, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble court may graciously be pleased to admit this writ petition, issue Rule NISI for calling upon the opp. Party No.5 for show cause as to why the direction will not be issued for settlement of the govt. land as mentioned in this petition in favour of the petitioner as he is a landless, poor person as well as she has been encroaching the same by residing thereupon since her predecessors. This Hon'ble Court may make its Rule absolute if the said opp. party fails to submit sufficient cause or show insufficient cause, and after hearing from the parties this Hon'ble Court may direct in the writ of mandamus to the Opp.

Party No.5 to refer the application of the petitioner to the opp. Party No.4 for settlement of the Govt. land in favour of the petitioner as per the provision u/s 8 (A) of the OPLE Act, 1972, or this Hon'ble Court be pleased to direct to the opp. party No.5 to initiate proceeding as per the application made by the petitioner on 06.10.2025 by non initiating any coercive action against the petitioner till to the consideration of the said application for the interest of justice and equity as this case in question.” 3. As submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner, the Petitioner has been in occupation of a government land since long and seeks the settlement of the said land in his favour. It is further submitted that the Petitioner has made a representation before the authority i.e. the Tahasildar, Madanpur Rampur for settlement of the land, which the Tahasildar has not considered as yet.

4. In absence of any serious objection from the learned AGA, the Writ application is disposed of at the stage of admission with a direction to the Opp. Party No.5, i.e. the Tahasildar, Madanpur Rampur, that, in the event the Petitioner has not been evicted from the subject land, his representation dated 06.10.2025, if not disposed of in the meanwhile, be disposed of in accordance with law giving an opportunity of being heard to the Petitioner, if it is so required. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of one (1) month from the date of receipt of this order. The Petitioner shall not be evicted from the subject land till the disposal of the representation. A free copy of the order be supplied to the learned State Counsel for onward transmission to the authority concerned to ensure compliance. (Chittaranjan Dash) Judge Signature Not Verified SARBANIJunior StenographerDASH AuthenticationHIGH OF ORISSA, CUTTACKDigitallySignedDesignation:Reason:Location:Date: 10-Jul-2026by:Signed COURT17:30:38 Sarbani Page 2 of 2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.1984 of 2026 Bhanumati Bag …. Petitioner Mr. A.C. Behera, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha & Others …. Opp. Parties Mrs. S. Pattanayak, AGA CORAM: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH ORDER Order No. 10.07.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Parties. 2. By means of this application, the Petitioner seeks for the following relief:- “Therefore, it is respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble court may graciously be pleased to admit this writ petition, issue Rule NISI for calling upon the opp. Party No.5 for show cause as to why the direction will not be issued for settlement of the govt. land as mentioned in this petition in favour of the petitioner as he is a landless, poor person as well as she has been encroaching the same by residing thereupon since her predecessors. This Hon'ble Court may make its Rule absolute if the said opp. party fails to submit sufficient cause or show insufficient cause, and after hearing from the parties this Hon'ble Court may direct in the writ of mandamus to the Opp.

Party No.5 to refer the application of the petitioner to the opp. Party No.4 for settlement of the Govt. land in favour of the petitioner as per the provision u/s 8 (A) of the OPLE Act, 1972, or this Hon'ble Court be pleased to direct to the opp. party No.5 to initiate proceeding as per the application made by the petitioner on 06.10.2025 by non initiating any coercive action against the petitioner till to the consideration of the said application for the interest of justice and equity as this case in question.” 3. As submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner, the Petitioner has been in occupation of a government land since long and seeks the settlement of the said land in his favour. It is further submitted that the Petitioner has made a representation before the authority i.e. the Tahasildar, Madanpur Rampur for settlement of the land, which the Tahasildar has not considered as yet.

4. In absence of any serious objection from the learned AGA, the Writ application is disposed of at the stage of admission with a direction to the Opp. Party No.5, i.e. the Tahasildar, Madanpur Rampur, that, in the event the Petitioner has not been evicted from the subject land, his representation dated 06.10.2025, if not disposed of in the meanwhile, be disposed of in accordance with law giving an opportunity of being heard to the Petitioner, if it is so required. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of one (1) month from the date of receipt of this order. The Petitioner shall not be evicted from the subject land till the disposal of the representation. A free copy of the order be supplied to the learned State Counsel for onward transmission to the authority concerned to ensure compliance. (Chittaranjan Dash) Judge Signature Not Verified SARBANIJunior StenographerDASH AuthenticationHIGH OF ORISSA, CUTTACKDigitallySignedDesignation:Reason:Location:Date: 10-Jul-2026by:Signed COURT17:30:38 Sarbani Page 2 of 2