Usha Rani Behera v. State Of Odisha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

WP(C) No.21868 of 2022 Usha Rani Behera ....

Petitioner Mr.Mihir Sekhar Sahoo, Adv.

-versusState of Odisha & Ors.

....

Opp. Parties Mr.D. Mohapatra,SC ( for S. & M.E. Deptt.) Mr. B.Mohanty,Adv.

(For BSE)

CORAM:

DR. JUSTICE S.K. PANIGRAHI Order No.

ORDER

26.08.2022 1.This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.

2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

3. In this writ petition, the petitioner has sought for a direction to the opposite parties to accept his Application Form for Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (SOTET)-2022 for Inservice Teachers as she failed to upload in the Website of Board of Secondary Education due to some server related problems through OnLine.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is a inservice teacher of a recognized school, intended to submit her application for Special Odisha Teacher

// 2 // Eligibility Test (SOTET)-2022 pursuant to Notification No.652 dtd.03.08.2022 issued by the Secretary, Board of Secondary Education, Odisha in the website of Board of Secondary Education. However, there was no wide publicity of said notification in the News paper. A News item was published in news paper on dt.04.08.2022 to the effect that Government has accepted the proposal for holding a special OTET for inservice teachers. After verifying the Board's website the petitioner could know about the advertisement and as regard to the eligibility criteria. It could be learnt that a candidate has to upload a certificate from the concerned District Education Officer or Block Education Officer in support of his working in a recognized school prior to issue of advertisement.

The petitioner tried to obtain certificate from Block Education Officer Cuttack and could obtain the same only on 11.08.2022. The time for submission of application as per notification was only through Online between 05.08.2022 to 12.08.2022. The petitioner tried to upload her application Online but failed due to server problem in website of the Board. So she approached the authority with prayer to accept her application either through online or offline but the same has not yet been considered. Hence, she has approached this Court.

5. Considering the grievance of the petitioner and without going into the merits of the case, this Court disposes of this

// 3 // writ petition at the stage of admission with the observation that Mr. Bikram Mohanty, learned counsel appearing for the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha shall apprise the difficulties of the petitioner to the Secretary, Board of Secondary Education, Odisha and the hard copy of the application along with all other required documents to be submitted by the petitioner shall be accepted by the Board by 9 P.M today i.e. 26.08.2022. It is further observed that the petitioner shall submit her application within the aforesaid time limit failing which this order shall not be given effect to.

6. The writ petitioner is accordingly, disposed of.

7. Issue certified copy of the order as per Rules.

8. A free copy of the order be supplied to the learned counsel appearing for the Board of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha for information and necessary compliance. ( Dr. S.K. Panigrahi) Judge LB