Delay In Issuing Death Certificate: Orissa HC Asks Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation To Introduce 'Citizen's Charter', Set Service Delivery Timelines

In order to usher a change in the attitude of municipal officials serving the general public, the Orissa High Court has directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to introduce a 'Citizen's Charter' highlighting the commitment of the Corporation towards citizens.While expressing grief over delay in services provided by the BMC, the Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar...

Temporary Shops Erected During Rath Yatra Can't Encroach Upon 'Bada Danda', No Commercial Activity Allowed: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has directed the Puri Municipality to ensure that temporary shops erected during Rath Yatra do not encroach upon the 'Bada Danda' (the Grand Road of Lord Jagannath) and also no commercial activity is undertaken in those shops.While issuing the order to the municipal body, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho said...

'Supply BNS Bare Act To Bar Library': Orissa High Court Judge Puts Condition For Granting Adjournments

In a peculiar development, the Orissa High Court has granted adjournments to some parties on the condition that they must supply a copy of Bare Act of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to the Bar Library.Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi was hearing certain criminal revision petitions. In one of such cases, despite of call no one appeared on behalf of the opposite party, i.e. 'Balasore Sadar...

'Undergone Mental Agony For Seven Years': Orissa HC Reduces Sentence Of Man Convicted U/S 354 IPC For Groping Co-Worker

The Orissa High Court, while upholding guilt of a man for groping the breast of a co-worker in 2018, has reduced the sentence awarded by the trial Court to the period already undergone keeping in view, inter alia, the prolonged period of mental agony for pendency of trial.Providing relief to the 57 years-old appellant, the Single Bench of Justice Debabrata Dash observed –“…the accused...

Former Judge Of Orissa High Court Justice Choudhury Pratap Kishore Misra Passes Away

Justice Choudhury Pratap Kishore Misra, a former Judge of the Orissa High Court and veteran jurist breathed his last in the Friday morning. He was 82 years old and ailing for the last few months.Justice Misra was born on January 05, 1942. After completing his legal education, he got himself enrolled in the Bar on November 08, 1971, and practiced in the Orissa High Court for almost three...

Woman Attaining Motherhood Through Surrogacy Entitled To 'Maternity Leave': Orissa High Court

In a landmark decision, the Orissa High Court has held that a woman employee who attains motherhood through 'surrogacy' is also entitled to avail the benefit of maternity leave as it is not only beneficial for the concerned woman but also needed for a healthy rearing of a new-born.Granting judicial sanction to the vital right of female employees, the Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb...

S.27 Evidence Act | Discovery Not Vitiated Merely If Material 'Openly Accessible', Unless It Is Visible To 'Bare Eyes' Of People: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has reiterated that the statement of an accused leading to discovery of an object/material is not vitiated if the same is 'openly accessible', rather it can said to be tainted when it is visible to the 'bare eyes' of the people passing through the area.Clarifying the position of law, the Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Chittaranjan Dash...

Consumer Commission Has No Jurisdiction To Entertain Matters Coming Under Purview Of SARFAESI Act: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has held that the Consumer Commissions do not have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding which is subject matter of adjudication by Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) or Appellate Tribunal under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 ('SARFAESI Act').Clarifying the jurisdictional issue, the Division...

Orissa High Court Releases Its Report Card For The Year 2023, Hosts Annual District Judges' Conference

The Orissa High Court organized the Annual District Judges' Conference-2024 from 28th to 30th June, 2024. It has also released its report card for the year 2023 in the form of an 'Annual Report'.The inauguration ceremony was held on Friday in the Odisha Judicial Academy, Cuttack which witnessed the presence of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh as the Chief Guest. The Judges of the High...

'Why Was Eco-Friendly Boating Facility At Taladanda Canal Stopped?': Orissa High Court Asks State Govt

The Orissa High Court has questioned the State as to why the eco-friendly boating facility at Taladanda Canal has been halted since November last year, even before completing second month of its inauguration.The Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice V. Narasingh was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) suo moto registered by the Court to monitor different...

Lok Adalat 'Awards' Not Independent Verdict, Should Resist Temptation To Play Role Of Regular Judges: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has reiterated that 'awards' passed by Lok Adalats are not independent adjudicatory verdicts, rather an administrative act of incorporating terms of settlement or compromise agreed upon by the parties in the form an 'executable order'.The Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi advised the Lok Adalats to refrain from acting as regular Courts and said...

'Single Testis In Scrotum, Medically Unfit': Orissa HC Dismisses Plea Of Constable Who Was Denied Appointment As CISF Sub-Inspector

The Orissa High Court has dismissed the writ petition filed by a Constable of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) who was denied appointment to the post of Sub-Inspector, even after qualifying the written test in the departmental examination, on the ground that he was having a 'single testis' in the scrotum.While upholding the decision of the Medical Review Board which found the...