Prasant Routray v. Ao Divisional Forest Officer Cum Wild Life Warden, Rourkela

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

W.P.(C) No. 16136 of 2022 Prasant Routray .....

Petitioner Mr.Bharat Bhusan Routray, Advocate -versusAuthorized Officer/Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Wild Life Warden, Rourkela ....

Opp. Party Mr. Swayambhu Mishra, Additional Standing Counsel

CORAM:

JUSTICE K.R. MOHAPATRA

ORDER

Order No.

28.07.2022 3.

1.

This matter is taken up through Hybrid mode.

2.

Petitioner in this writ petition prays for a direction to complete confiscation proceeding, i.e., OR Case No.194 P/2021-22 pending before Authorized Officer/Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Wild Life Warden, Rourkela in the district of Sundargarh at an early date.

3.

Taking into consideration the submission made by learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court, vide order dated 14th July, 2022 directed learned State Counsel to take instruction as to when the confiscation proceeding can be disposed of.

3.1 On instruction, Mr. Mishra, learned ASC submits that prosecution report has already been submitted by Range Officer on 7th July, 2022 and notice has been issued to the accused person to appear and show cause. He further submitted that the

// 2 // Authorized Officer requires three months' time to dispose of the confiscation proceeding after appearance of the accused person.

4.

Taking into consideration the submissions of learned counsel for the parties, this Court disposes of the writ petition with a direction to the sole Opposite Party-Authorized Officer/Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Wild Life Warden, Rourkela to dispose of confiscation proceeding bearing OR Case No.194 P/2021-22 in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, preferably by end of December, 2022 giving opportunity of hearing to the parties concerned, if there is no legal impediment. Petitioner is directed to cooperate the Authorized Officer for early disposal of the confiscation proceeding.

5.

Mr. Routray, learned counsel for the Petitioner undertakes to appear before Authorized Officer/Divisional Forest Officer-cum-Wild Life Warden, Rourkela on 8th August, 2022 along with certified copy of this order to receive further instruction in the matter.

Issue urgent certified copy of the order on proper application (K.R. Mohapatra) Judge s.s.satapathy