costs. Application for waiver of costs of Rs. 25,000/- imposed vide order dated 31.01.2025 has been filed by Respondent No. 3 whereas vide order dated 31.01.2025 costs were imposed on Respondent No. 1 and no costs were imposed on Respondent No. 3. No application for waiver of costs has been filed by Respondent No. 1. The preliminary affidavit dated 30.01.2025 purported to have been filed on behalf of Respondent No. 1-State of Odisha through Chief Secretary but the same was not signed by Chief Secretary, State of Odisha or officer duly authorized by him. In I.A. No. 226/2025 the preliminary affidavit is claimed to have been filed by Respondent No. 3. The preliminary affidavit was signed by Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha who was not party to the case. This Tribunal impleaded Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha as Respondent No. 3 and in the absence of any written authorization, Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha cannot be said to have been authorized to participate in the proceedings and file reply/response on his behalf. Consequently, preliminary affidavit cannot be said to have been filed even on behalf of Respondent No. 3. In these facts and circumstances, the submission of learned Counsel for Respondents No. 1 to 3 and 6 that costs having been wrongly imposed on Respondent No. 1 as Respondent No. 1 had already filed preliminary affidavit on 30.01.2025 is factually wrong. Since no reply was filed by Respondent No. 1 despite sufficient time and opportunity having been granted, further adjournment for filing of reply/response by Respondent No. 1 was granted on payment of costs of Rs. 25,000/-. No valid ground for waiver of costs is made out and I.A. No. 226/2025 filed by Respondent No. 3 for waiver of costs is dismissed.
