Orissa High Court
May Have Chilling Effect On Press Freedom: Orissa HC Quashes Case Against Journalist Accused Of Dissuading Public From Availing Covid-19 Treatment
The Orissa High Court has quashed pending criminal proceedings against an Input Editor of the news agency named Odisha Television Network (OTV) for telecasting a conversation between a Covid-19 patient and another person wherein the patient criticised certain inactions of the State Government in tackling the COVID pandemic.While granting relief to the journalist, the Single Judge Bench of...
Orissa High Court Upholds Acquittal Of Three Persons Accused In 2001 Keonjhar Witch-Craft Murder Case
The Orissa High Court has upheld the order of acquittal in favour of three persons accused of committing murder of a lady in 2001 suspecting her to be a ‘witch’. While extending ‘benefit of doubt’ to the accused, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Gourishankar Satapathy said,“By that yardstick, the evidence brought on record by the...
Orissa High Court Confers 'Senior Designation' Upon 5 Advocates Including 1 Woman Lawyer
The Orissa High Court on Tuesday, while exercising its power under Section 16 of the Advocates Act read with Rule 7(1) of the High Court of Orissa (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2019, conferred 'Senior Designation' on the following five lawyers, including one woman lawyer. 1. Shri Sunkuru Sudhakar Rao2. Shri Rudra Prasad Kar3. Shri Samir Kumar Mishra4. Shri Prafulla Kumar Rath5....
Orissa High Court Quashes Murder Charge Against Malkangiri’s Ex-Collector For Suspicious Death Of PA, Substitutes With ‘Abetment To Suicide’ Charge
The Orissa High Court has quashed the murder charge levelled against IAS officer Manish Agarwal, a former Collector of the district of Malkangiri, for mysterious death of his Personal Assistant (PA) in 2019. However, the Single Judge Bench of Justice Sashikanta Mishra sustained the charge of abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy against the ex-District Magistrate and other accused...
Claimants Need Not File Petition In Supreme Court To Transfer Motor Accidents Claims Made In Different Territorial Jurisdictions: Orissa HC Registry
The Registry of Orissa High Court on Wednesday notified that in motor accident claim cases, if the claimant(s) have filed separate claim petition(s) in the territorial jurisdiction of different High Courts, the first claim petition filed by them shall be maintained by the said Claims Tribunal and the subsequent claim petition(s) shall stand transferred to the Tribunal where the first...
Orissa High Court Modifies Additional Condition Imposed By Lower Court While Granting Bail To MLA Prasanta Jagadev In Road Rage Case
The Orissa High Court has modified an additional condition imposed by the Court of a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) after the Supreme Court granted bail to Chillika MLA Prasanta Kumar Jagadev in a road rage case, where he is accused of ramming over his four-wheeler over a crowd during panchayat elections.In May 2022, a Single Judge Bench of the High Court had denied him bail...
GST Tribunal Not Constituted: Orissa High Court Condones Delay And Stays GST Demand
The Orissa High Court stayed the Goods and Service Tax (GST) demand subject to deposit of tax as the GST Tribunal is not constituted.The bench of Justice B.R. Sarangi and Justice M.S. Raman has observed that since the petitioner wants to avail the remedy under the provisions of law by approaching the 2nd appellate tribunal, which has not yet been constituted, as an interim measure subject to...
Battery Cars For Old & Differently Abled, Mobile Toilet For Devotees: Orissa High Court Issues Directions For Smooth Darshan At Alarnath Temple
The Orissa High Court has issued a slew of directions to the Puri District Administration and Lord Alarnath temple committee for smooth and comfortable darshan of Lord Alarnath by lakhs of devotees during the ‘Anasara’, a two-week period when Lord Jagannath is believed to manifest through Lord Alarnath.Earlier this week, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding...
Orissa High Court Queries Puri District Administration About Steps Taken For Crowd Management At Alarnath Temple During ‘Anasara Darshan’
The Orissa High Court has ordered the Puri District administration to file affidavit pointing out the steps taken for crowd management and arrangements made for smooth and hassle-free ‘anasara darshan’ of Lord Alarnath starting from May 5, 2023 and which is slated to continue for upcoming two weeks.The Vacation Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Murahari Sri Raman...
“Publicity Interest Litigation”: Orissa High Court Dismisses PIL Against RBI Circular Allowing Exchange Of ₹2000 Notes Without ID Proof
The Orissa High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the circular dated May 19, 2023 issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which announced discontinuance from circulation of ₹2000 notes and allowed people to get them exchanged at banks without any identity proof. While terming the petition to be a ‘publicity interest litigation’, the...
Orissa High Court Criticizes Special NDPS Court For Denying Bail Despite Production Of Accused After More Than 24 Hrs
The Orissa High Court has criticised police for showing lackadaisical attitude in not producing before the Court some persons arrested under the stringent provisions of the NDPS Act, within the statutory period of 24 hours. It also rebuked the Special NDPS Judge for not granting bail to them despite such delay.While terming the detention to be ‘illegal’ and in violation of...
People Can’t Be Denied Benefits Of Welfare Schemes Only Because They Don’t Possess Aadhaar Card Or Mobile Number: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has cautioned both the Union and State Governments that they must not deny benefits of different welfare schemes to the needy people belonging to vulnerable sections only because they do not possess identity proof like Aadhaar Card or mobile number.While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pertaining to serious condition that has emerged in Jajpur district due...