Santosh Kumar Sahoo v. State of Odisha
Case brief
What is this about?
Odisha High Court, Cuttack; WP(C) No.2404 of 2026; Santosh Kumar Sahoo vs State of Odisha (Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department) and Another (O.P.2 = RTO, Nayagarh); release of seized vehicle regn. OD-25-F-6669; deposit of 50% of fine amount under Motor Vehicles Act; insurance certificate obtained; pending tax dues deposited; fitness certificate application vide Annexure-3 and Annexure-4; undertaking not to ply/operate vehicle until fitness certificate granted; vehicle to be produced for fitness within ten days; disposal of writ petition at stage of admission; counsel S.C. Pani (petitioner), G. Tripathy AGA (O.P.1), P. Behera (O.P.2); Judge B. P. Routray; order dated 11.2.2026.
What did the court decide?
Disposed at admission stage with direction to the RTO, Nayagarh (O.P. No.2) to release the petitioner's seized vehicle (regn. OD-25-F-6669) within three days of deposit of 50% of the fine amount under the Motor Vehicles Act, subject to the petitioner producing the vehicle for fitness before O.P. No.2 within ten days thereafter and undertaking not to ply/operate the vehicle until the fitness certificate is granted.