The High Court
Case Details
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.24066 of 2023 Aakash Kumar Agrawal & Another …. Petitioners Mr. Biplab Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24085 of 2023 Deepak Agrawal Petitioner …. Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24200 of 2023 Govid Prasad Chhapadia Petitioner …. Mr. S. Mishra, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 1 W.P.(C) No.24271 of 2023 Umesh Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.K. Panda, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24272 of 2023 Bijay Kumar Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.K. Panda, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24276 of 2023 Suresh Kumar Kataruka …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 2 W.P.(C) No.24277 of 2023 The Gopal Gosala, Bargarh …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24279 of 2023 Manjari Devi Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C). No.24280 of 2023 Kishore Kumar Agrawal ….
Legal Reasoning
Petitioner Mr. M. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 3 W.P.(C) No.24282 of 2023 Baijanath Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24284 of 2023 Banwari Lal Kataruka …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24292 of 2023 Suresh Kumar Kejriwal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 4 W.P.(C) No.24293 of 2023 Niraj Kumar Kansal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24296 of 2023 Ghanshyam Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24299 of 2023 Suresh Kumar Kataruka …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 5 W.P.(C) No.24313 of 2023 Rajendra Prasad Lath …. Petitioner Mr. D.R. Parida, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24315 of 2023 Govind Prasad Chhapadia & Another …. Petitioners Mr. S. Mishra, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24365 of 2023 Bijay Kumar Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 6 W.P.(C) No.24367 of 2023 Manoj Lath …. Petitioner Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24369 of 2023 Prem Chand Agrawal Petitioner …. Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24371 of 2023 Shyamlal Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 7 W.P.(C) No.24372 of 2023 Bajranglal Agrawal & Another …. Petitioners Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24476 of 2023 Pradip Kumar Lath Petitioner …. Mr. R. Sharma, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24600 of 2023 Bijay Kumar Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.K. Panda, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 8 W.P.(C) No.24634 of 2023 Mohanlal Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. V. Kar, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24635 of 2023 Manoj Lath & Another Petitioners …. Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24640 of 2023 Hari Prasad Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 9 W.P.(C) No.24642 of 2023 Brajmohan Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24643 of 2023 Radhabai Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24663 of 2023 Lalita Devi Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. R.K. Agrawal, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 10 W.P.(C) No.24665 of 2023 Babulal Agrawal & Another …. Petitioners Mr. R.K. Agrawal, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24667 of 2023 Ramavatar Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. G. N. Parida, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24729 of 2023 Rajeswari Gupta …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 11 W.P.(C) No.24799 of 2023 Ashok Sawadia @ Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.K. Panda, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24804 of 2023 Sahil Dhanuka …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24806 of 2023 Ramesh Kumar Dhanuka …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 12 W.P.(C) No.24807 of 2023 Ashok Kumar Mittal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24808 of 2023 Bishnu Prasad Dhanuka & Others …. Petitioners Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24809 of 2023 Kailash Prasad Agrawal & Another …. Petitioners Mr. G. N. Parida, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 13 W.P.(C) No.24810 of 2023 Lagan Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. B.R. Behera, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24822 of 2023 Bishnu Prasad Agrawal & Others …. Petitioners Mr. S.K. Pradhan, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.24938 of 2023 Gobind Kumar Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A. Patnaik, Advocate -Versus- The Collector, Bargarh and Others …. Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality Page | 14 W.P.(C) No.24939 of 2023 Sankar Kumar Beriwal …. Petitioner Mr. A. Patnaik, Advocate -Versus- The Collector, Bargarh and Others …. Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality W.P.(C) No.24940 of 2023 Sarita Beriwal Petitioner …. Mr. A. Patnaik, Advocate -Versus- The Collector, Bargarh and Others …. Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality W.P.(C) No.24982 of 2023 Kailash Prasad Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. A.K. Chaudhury, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 15 W.P.(C) No.25407 of 2023 Piyush Agrawal & Another …. Petitioners Mr. G.N. Parida, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.26017 of 2023 Sanjay Sawdia Petitioner …. Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.26523 of 2023 Shree Gopal Goshala, Bargarh …. Petitioner Mr. G.N. Parida, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 16 W.P.(C) No.26714 of 2023 Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra …. Petitioner Mr. A.P. Bose, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.27302 of 2023 Kailash Prasad Agarwal Petitioner …. Mr. S.K. Samal, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.27304 of 2023 Kailash Prasad Agarwal …. Petitioner Mr. S.K. Samal, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 17 W.P.(C) No.27306 of 2023 Rakesh Kumar Agarwal …. Petitioner Mr. S.K. Samal, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.27307 of 2023 Nanda Kishore Agarwal Petitioner …. Mr. S.K. Samal, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.27705 of 2023 Prinshu Dhanuka @ Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. S. Das, Advocate -Versus- State of Orissa and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 18 W.P.(C) No.27752 of 2023 Mukesh Kumar Agarwal …. Petitioner Mr. A. Patnaik, Advocate -Versus- The Collector, Bargarh and Others …. Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality W.P.(C) No.27754 of 2023 Bibek Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. B. Mohanty, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. W.P.(C) No.27827 of 2023 Biharilal Agrawal @ Bihari Agrawal …. Petitioner Mr. J. Sahu, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha and Others Opposite Parties Mr. P K. Rout, AGA Mr. J.K. Panda, Advocate for Bargarh Municipality …. Page | 19 CORAM: JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK DATE OF JUDGMENT:01.02.2024 1. Since the cause of action is similar, the matters are clubbed together with all the writ petitions being disposed of by the following common order. 2. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties. 3. Instant writ petitions have been filed by the petitioners assailing the impugned action of the Executive Officer, Bargarh Municipality (hereinafter referred to as ‘the EO’) declaring their eviction as arbitrary, unreasonable and unfair and also for a direction to the authority concerned to provide them an opportunity of hearing before proceeding with eviction and demolition with such other reliefs. 4. The action is at the behest of the EO. In individual cases, more or less similar pleas have been advanced challenging the demolition drive declared by the EO. In couple of cases, the petitioners have raised claims over the lands in question opposing eviction. In fact, the standing structures over the schedule lands, as according to the EO, are over the Government lands, which are required to be removed. The reason for eviction and demolition in view of the EO is on account of congestion of roads due to the alleged encroachment. Citing other reasons as well, such demolition drive with eviction was announced in the month of July, 2023. Some of the petitioners have pleaded that they do not have other means of shelter and in the event, the demolition is allowed, all of them would be put to severe hardship. The action of the EO is primarily questioned by the petitioners for having not been provided reasonable time to respond to the Page | 20 decision of demolition, which according to them, is not only against the principle of natural justice but also an act of colourable exercise of power. It has been contended that prior notice with all fairness is the requirement of law before eviction, unfortunately, however, the EO failed to comply the same before proceeding with the demolition drive. 5. In course of hearing, learned counsel for the respective parties urged the Court to consider many aspects related to the eviction and demolition which is claimed to be not in accordance with law, even questioned the authority of the EO. It has been claimed that before demolition, prior permission of the State Government to be necessary, which in the present case, to be conspicuously absent and that apart, there has been no compliance of the provisions of Odisha Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act (in short ‘the OPP Act’), inasmuch as, such an action is being dealt with by the Estate Officer, who is conferred with the powers to initiate eviction process and while stating so, circulars of the Government dated 28th September, 1989 and 9th January, 2014 to the rejoinder affidavit filed in W.P.(C) No.24276 of 2023 are referred to. It is also contended that if the purpose and object of demolition is for improvement of the town, the same has to be in accordance with a Scheme in place in view of Section 44 of the Odisha Town Planning and Improvement Trust Act and in absence of the same, the action of the EO is bad in law. The manner in which, the demolition drive has been initiated on the basis of representations or requests received is also questioned. The further contention is that the provisions of the Odisha Municipal Rules read with Section 62-A of the Odisha Municipal Act since relate to town planning, in absence of any draft development, the eviction and demolition to be not in confirmity with law. A reference is made to other Page | 21 provisions of the said Act dealing with and in relation to public streets, removal of encroachment etc. by claiming that due process has not been followed before taking the impugned decision and while advancing such an argument, the following case laws, such as, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana Vrs. InderjIt Singh and Another (2008) 13 SCC 506; Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and others Vrs. Sunbeam High Tech Developers