Ashok Dash v. State Of Odisha
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
W.P.(C) No. 2860 of 2022 Ashok Dash ....
Petitioner Mr.Neelakantha Panda, Advocate -versusState of Odisha and others ....
Opp. Parties Mr. J. Katkia, Additional Government Advocate
CORAM:
JUSTICE BISWAJIT MOHANTY JUSTICE K.R.MOHAPATRA Order No.
ORDER
04.02.2022 1.
1.
This matter is taken up through Video Conferencing Mode.
2.
Heard Mr. Panda, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Mr. Katkia, learned AGA.
3.
According to Mr. panda, the Petitioner is aggrieved by action of the Opposite Party-Authorities in not allowing conversion of leasehold land to free hold land pertaining to the house site situated in Bhubaneswar Town Unit-18 under Mouza Paika Nagar corresponding to VIP Area Plot No.136 in IRC Village, Bhubaneswar under PS: Nayapally in the district of Khordha appertaining to Khata No.185/121 covering an area Ac.0.124 decimal, though he has applied for the same on 25th November, 2019. He further submits that though such an application has been acknowledged by the authorities by issuing acknowledgement receipt on the same date, i.e., 25th November, under Annexure-4 series and though in the acknowledgement receipt it was indicated that the last date of the given time was fixed to 7th March, 2020, however till date, nothing has been done in the matter. He further submits that while his application is lying unattended, the adjoining plots No. 135 and 137 have already been permitted to be converted from
// 2 // leasehold to freehold status. In such background, he prays that a direction may be issued to the Director of Estate and ExOfficio Additional Secretary to Government of Odisha, General Administration and Public Grievance Department (OP No.2) to take a decision on the above noted application under Annexure4 series within a specified time period. 4.
Considering such submissions and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court directs the Opposite Party no.2 to take a decision on the above noted application for conversion of leasehold plot to freehold status in accordance with law within a period of two months from the date or receipt of a copy of this order and communicate the result of such exercise to the Petitioner.
5.
Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. 6.
As the restrictions due to resurgence of COVID-19 situation are continuing, learned counsel for the parties may utilize a printout of the order available in the High Court's website, at par with certified copy, subject to attestation by the concerned advocate, in the manner prescribed vide Court's Notice No.4587 dated 25th March, 2020, modified by Notice No.4798 dated 15th April, 2021, and Court's Office Order circulated vide Memo Nos.514 and 515 dated 7th January, 2022. s.s.satapathy (Biswajit Mohanty) Judge (K.R. Mohapatra) Judge