Disposed¶32

Dambarudhar Panda v. State of Odisha

Orissa HC7 Apr 2026WP(C)/9844/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Orissa High Court, WP(C) No.9844 of 2026, A.K. Mohapatra J., order dated 07.04.2026; retired demonstrator; UGC Scale of Pay; pay-scale parity with similarly situated demonstrators; Annexure-7 order dated 26.02.2024; representation dated 18.12.2025 (Annexure-8); Article 226 mandamus; Articles 14 and 16; direction to consider representation within eight weeks; speaking and reasoned order; writ disposed at admission stage.

What did the court decide?

Direction to Opposite Party No.1 to consider the Petitioner's representation under Annexure-8 within eight weeks by passing a speaking and reasoned order taking into consideration the order at Annexure-7 series; decision to be communicated to the Petitioner within ten days thereafter. ¶32

Dambarudhar Panda Vs State of Odisha — Writ and Judicial Review | Orissa HC (2026)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK WP(C) No.9844 of 2026

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Dambarudhar Panda

.....

Petitioner

Represented by Adv.

Sandhyarani Pani

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-versus-

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State of Odisha and others

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..... Opposite Parties Represented by Adv. –

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Mr. U.C. Jena, ASC

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CORAM:

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MR. JUSTICE ADITYA KUMAR MOHAPATRA

ORDER

07.04.2026

Order No.

1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual /Physical Mode).

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Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner as well as learned Additional Standing Counsel for the State-Opposite Parties. Perused the writ application as well as the documents annexed thereto.

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The Petitioner has filed the present writ application with the following prayer:

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“It is therefore, prayed that this Hon’ble

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Court may be graciously pleased to issue writ/writs, order/orders and direction/directions under Article226 of the Constitution of India and more particularly to issue;-

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Page 1 of 4.

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1. Writ of Mandamus directing the Opposite Parties to extend UGC Scales of Pay Rs.1740-3000/w.e.f.01.01.1986 and Rs.5500-9000/w.e.f. 01.01.1996 and pay arrear dues forthwith calculating from the respective dates in view of the resolution/letter under annexure-4, 5 & 6 and Office orders passed under Annexure-7 & 7 series following Articles 14 and 16 of Constitution of India and accordingly re-fix pension & pay the pension arrears forthwith to the Petitioner

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2. Direction directing opposite parties to dispose of representation under Annexure-8 in the light of Office orders passed under Annexure-7 & 7 series in favour of Demonstrators possessing B.A. qualification declared in the year 1988.

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And pass such order order/orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice.

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And for this act of kindness the petitioner shall ever pray.”

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It is stated by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that the Petitioner who happens to be a retired demonstrator has approached this Court challenging inaction of the Government is not extending the U.G.C. Scale of Pay to the Petitioner. Learned counsel for the Petitioner in course of argument deferred to order dated 26.02.2024 at Annexure-7 series to the writ petition. It is stated before this Court that the Government has already sanctioned U.G.C. Scale of Pay in respect of similarly situated demonstrators. In such view of the matter, learned counsel for the Petitioner alleged that the Petitioner has been discriminated against.

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Page 2 of 4.

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Being aggrieved by such discrimination, the Petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present writ application for a direction to the Opposite Parties to plead the Petitioner at far with the persons whose names find place in the order at Annexure-7 series.

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Learned Additional Standing Counsel for the State on the other hand contended that although he has no specific instruction in the matter, however it appears that the Petitioner has already approached the Opposite Party No.1 for redressal of his grievance by filing a detailed representation dated 18.12.2025 at Annexure-8 to the writ application. Learned counsel for the State submits that he has no objection if the representation of the Petitioner is considered by the Opposite Party No.1, which is stated to be pending, in accordance with law within a stipulated period of time.

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Considering the limited nature of grievance of the Petitioner, the writ application is disposed of at the stage of admission with a direction to the Opposite Party No.1 to consider the representation of the Petitioner under Annexure-8 within a period of eight weeks from the date of production of certified copy of this order. The Opposite Party No.1 shall do well to dispose of the representation of the Petitioner under Annexure-8 by passing a speaking and reasoned order also taking into consideration the order at Annexure-7 series. The decision so taken by the Opposite Party No.2 be also communicated to the Petitioner within ten days thereafter.

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Page 3 of 4.

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With the aforesaid observation/ direction, the writ application stands disposed of.

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Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per Rules.

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( A.K. Mohapatra ) Judge

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Sisir

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Signature Not Verified

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Digitally Signed Signed by: SISIR KUMAR SETHI Designation: PERSONAL ASSISTANCE Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT Date: 09-Apr-2026 11:22:28

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Page 4 of 4.

Dambarudhar Panda v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Dambarudhar Panda v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

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