Entry Made In Dispatch Register Is Not Primary Evidence To Prove Service Of Notice On Assessee: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has made it clear that an entry in the dispatch register maintained by the Revenue is not primary evidence to show service of notice on an assessee. In the case at hand, Petitioner-assessee was aggrieved by rejection of application made under section 154 in Income Tax Act, 1961 for rectification. Petitioner was issued a notice for scrutiny assessment...

Orissa High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Against Lawyer Accused Of Taking Money To Bribe Judge For Bail

The Orissa High Court recently declined to dismiss a criminal case against an advocate accused of accepting money, gold, and property deeds from a client in exchange for securing favorable bail outcomes from a now-retired High Court Judge.The single bench comprising Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra underscored the need for strict measures to uphold public confidence in the judicial system and...

'Trial Would Be Futile Exercise': Orissa High Court Quashes Case Against Engineer For Not Wearing Mask During Pandemic

The Orissa High Court has quashed criminal case against a 39-year-old engineer for riding motor cycle without putting on helmet and not wearing mask during COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020.Stressing on the intention behind the legislation of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, the Single Bench of Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra held that allowing the trial to be held in the case would be a...

Unlikely That Woman Would Harm Her Unborn Baby By Committing Suicide: Orissa HC Upholds Conviction Of Ex-MLA For Pregnant Wife's Murder

The Orissa High Court has upheld the conviction and life-term of former Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ramamurty Gamango for murder of his pregnant wife in the year 1995 at his official residence.While confirming the 2023's trial Court order, the Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Chittaranjan Dash observed –“The conclusive nature of the evidence,...

Cyclone Dana: Orissa High Court Asks Cuttack Authorities To Remove Bamboo Structures, Hoardings; Flags 'Artificial Scarcity' Of Commodities

The Orissa High Court on Tuesday inquired about the preparedness of the civic authorities of Cuttack city in the face of probable severe cyclonic storm 'Dana', which is likely to make land-fall on the coast of Odisha in between 24th and 25th October.A Special Division Bench of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice V. Narasingh was hearing a PIL concerning the civic issues of the city of...

Right To Be Considered For Promotion Survives Retirement, Persists Even If Legitimate Claim Not Acted Upon by Employee While In Service: Orissa HC

Orissa High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sashikanta Mishra dismissed the claim of Somanath Mandal, a retired employee of the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), for a notional promotion. However, the court directed the university to investigate whether vacancies in the unreserved (UR) category existed during the relevant period. The court held that an...

Orissa High Court Quashes 13-Year Suspension Penalty On Revenue Inspector After Acquittal In Corruption Case; Orders Full Financial Benefits

Orissa High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Murahari Sri Raman quashed the punishment imposed on Kansari Behera, a retired Revenue Inspector, for treating the suspension period from 30.09.2000 to 30.09.2013 as non-duty. The court held that the disciplinary authority violated the law by failing to comply with an earlier appellate order and emphasized that Behera's acquittal in...

All Claims Before Approval Of Resolution Plan Are Extinguished Once Plan Is Approved U/S 31 Of IBC: Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court Bench of Mr. Justice D.Dash and Mr. Justice V. Narasingh held that all liabilities of the corporate debtor prior to approval of resolution plan stand extinguished once the plan is approved under section 31 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). In this case, three writ petitions were filed against demand letters issued by the state (opposite...

Widow Denied PM Awas Benefits For 7 Yrs Due To Forgery Of Govt Official: Orissa HC Orders Immediate Disbursal Of Benefit, Recovery From Salary

The Orissa High Court has ordered the Panchayati Raj Department to immediately disburse the benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) to an elderly widow who, despite of being eligible to get the benefits, was deprived of the same due to forgery committed by a person in collusion with a government official.Underlining the unjust and illegal deprivation caused to the lady...

Take Proper Safety Measures While Burning Ravan Effigy On Dussehra; No High-Decibel DJs During Durga Puja: Orissa HC To Cuttack Authorities

The Orissa High Court has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack to ensure that no high-decibel DJs or loud music is played during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities. It has also ordered the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) as well as the Commissionerate of Police to coordinate for smooth celebration of 'Ravan Podi Utsav' (Ravan effigy burning).A special Division Bench of...

Virtually Train Tahasildars & Revenue Officials On Proper Issuance Of 'Eviction Notice': Orissa HC To Revenue Department

In a peculiar development, the Orissa High Court has ordered the Revenue and Disaster Management Department of the Government of Odisha to conduct an online training program for all Tahasildars as well as Revenue officials in the State as to how to issue an 'eviction notice' with detailed particulars.The Court was hearing a writ petition challenging an encroachment proceeding initiated...

Not Mandatory To Give Opportunity Of Hearing To Delinquent Employee In 'Fact Finding Inquiry': Orissa High Court

The Orissa High Court has held that an inquiry conducted by a fact find committee is an administrative mechanism which is instituted only to ascertain facts on the basis of which a disciplinary inquiry is contemplated and thus, there is no need to provide opportunity of hearing to the delinquent employee at such stage.Differentiating between 'fact finding inquiry' and 'disciplinary inquiry',...