Basant Kumar Das Vs State of Odisha

1 . The W.P. (C) No.12358 of 2024 has been filed challenging the order dated 04.04.2024 passed by the opposite party no.2-Certificate Officer-cum-Collector, Mayurbhanj in Certificate Case No.07 of 2018 (05/2018) in a proceeding under the provisions of Odisha Public Demands Recovery Act, 1962 (hereinafter the OPDR Act for

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short) attaching the immovable properties of the petitioner and directing to take physical possession of the land of the petitioner and further directing to put the land in auction and to issue non-bailable warrant.

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It is stated in the writ application and submitted that challenging the demand notice issued in the said certificate case the petitioner has filed Certificate Appeal No.08 of 2019 U/s.60(1)(c) of the OPDR Act, 1962 before the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division), Cuttack. The said appeal is pending disposal.

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2. I.A. No.23119 of 2025 has been filed after the order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Similar I.A.(s) have been filed in all the six writ applications listed today. 3. The matter has been listed before this Bench specially assigned by Hon’ble the Chief Justice by order dated 20.01.2026 in the administrative side.

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4 . I.A. No.23119 of 2025 has been field by the OP/State enclosing copy of the order dated 10.12.2025 passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Miscellaneous Application No.18 of 2025 in W.P.(C) No.114 of 2014. The said Miscellaneous Application was filed, arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 02.08.2017 in W.P.(C) No.114 of 2014: Common Cause v. Union of India and others . By the said order the Hon’ble Supreme Court have directed thus:

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“1. We are informed that several writ petitions bearing W.P.(C) Nos.31548, 31551, 31554 of 2025 and W.P.(C) Nos.9264, 9263 and 12358 of 2024 are pending before the high Court, wherein

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orders passed in recovery proceedings have been challenged and stay obtained.

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2. Since public revenue to a substantial extent is involved, we grant liberty to the State of Odisha to move an application before the Chief Justice of High Court of Odisha by 19^th December, 2025, with a request to assign all such writ petitions to a dedicated Bench for final disposal by the end of March, 2026.

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3. In the event, the Bench is disabled from deciding the writ petitions finally by 31^st March, 2026, at least, the prayers made by the State of Odisha for vacation/alteration/modification of such interim orders of stay may be considered and decided by the Bench.

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4. We also observe that in such of the cases where either there is no stay granted by the High Court or any other appropriate Court, the State of Odisha shall proceed in accordance with law for recovery of the outstanding dues.

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5. Further status report shall be filed on or before 02.04.2026.

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6. Re-list the Miscellaneous Application and the connected matters in the second week of April, 2026.”

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5. The learned counsel, Mr. Lenka referring to the averments made in the writ petition submits that one of the contentions raised in the writ petition is that prior to filing of the certificate case under the provisions of the Odisha Public Demand Recovery (OPDR) Act and further proceeding under the said Act, quantified demand giving details of calculation for arriving at the figure was not raised against the petitioner.

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6. To support his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner relies on the paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Certificate

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Appeal No.8 of 2019 pending before the appellate authority, which are reproduced herein:

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“4. That, since the appellant was unable to look after the aforesaid mines, by document No.841 and 842 both dt.26.03.2007 the appellant executed an agreements in favour of M/s Sidhartha Sponge and Power Pvt. Ltd. represented by its Director Sri Ananta Kumar Agarwal and M/s Jay Jagannath Movers Pvt. Ltd. represented through its director Pratap Kumar Das respectively, with due notice to the competent authority. After execution of the said agreement the appellant stopped the mining operation.

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5. That, as per the said mining agreement the appellant was paying all the mining dues including surface rent and all other ancillary rents to the competent authority from time to time for the period he operated the mines.”

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7. It is submitted by the learned counsel, Mr. Lenka that there is no basis for arriving at the figure quantified for supporting the demand(s) made by the Mining Authority raised against the petitioners, allegedly, towards mining dues which have been sought to be enforced by resorting to the OPDR Act.

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8. The learned AGA submits that he has filed counter in response to the writ petitions W.P. (C) No.31548 of 2025, W.P. (C) No.31551 of 2025 and W.P. (C) No.31554 of 2025 and has also filed a petition for vacation of interim order of stay.

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Mr. Lenka, learned counsel submits that he has received copy of the IA seeking vacation of stay/interim order.

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9. As has been stated at the Bar by the learned counsel for the parties the Certificate Appeal No.8 of 2019 is pending before the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division), Cuttack.

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Apparently, pendency of this writ petition has interdicted the said proceeding i.e. Appeal U/s.60 of the OPDR Act, 1962.

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10. In view of the above, it is directed the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division), Cuttack shall proceed with the appeal in accordance with law.

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The parties shall appear before the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central Division), Cuttack on 10.04.2026 along with certified copy of this order. The RDC (CD), Cuttack is requested to grant further three weeks’ time to the parties to complete the respective pleadings. If any rejoinder or sur-rejoinder is to be filed by any of the parties, the same shall be completed within two weeks thereafter. The parties shall have the liberty to take all the plea available under law before the RDC (CD), Cuttack.

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11. The learned counsel representing the State/Department of Mining appearing before the appellate authority: RDC (CD), Cuttack shall apprise the authority by producing copies of all the orders passed/direction issued by Hon’ble the Apex Court which would have any bearing on the subject under adjudication.

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12. The petitioner herein whether is a party in any proceeding pending before/disposed of by Hon’ble the Apex

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Court shall be specifically disclosed before the Appellate Authority-RDC in the pending appeal.

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13. This Court has not expressed any opinion regarding the respective contentions of the parties in the present writ petition.

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14. The interim order dated 20.05.2024 passed in this writ petition shall continue during pendency of the Certificate Appeal No.8 of 2019 before the RDC(CD), Cuttack till disposal of the appeal.

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15. It is directed that the parties shall cooperate in sincerely prosecuting the matter in appeal. The appeal shall be disposed of within a period of four months from the date of appearance as directed above before the appellate authority.

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16. The writ petition is disposed of with the above observations.

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Urgent certified copy be issued as per rules.

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(Mruganka Sekhar Sahoo) Judge

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Orissa High Court, Cuttack The 26^th March, 2026/Radha

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Signature Not Verified

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Digitally Signed Signed by: RADHARANI JENA Reason: Authentication Location: OHC Date: 31-Mar-2026 19:56:18