Gautam Pani v. State Of Odisha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

WP(C) No.33802 of 2022 Gautam Pani ....

Petitioner Mr.S.K. Dalai, Advocate -versusState of Odisha & others .... Opp.Parties Mr.Shailajan Nandan Das Special Counsel

CORAM:

JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO Order No.

ORDER

14.12.2022 This matter is taken up through Hybrid arrangement 02.

(video conferencing/physical mode).

The petitioner Gautam Pani has filed this writ petition challenging the order dated 31.10.2022 passed by the Collector, Balasore, opposite party no.2 under Annexure-9 disengaging the petitioner from the post of Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS) for Mukulisi Gram Panchayat in the district of Balasore.

Learned Special Counsel appearing for the State of Odisha has brought to the notice of the Court the comprehensive guidelines for selection and engagement of Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS) under MGNREGS dated 06.04.2018 issued by the Government of Odisha in Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, in which it has been specifically provided that if the GRS is aggrieved by

// 2 // the order of the Collector-cum-CEO, Zilla Parishad, he may prefer an appeal within thirty days of such order of the Collector-cum-CEO, Zilla Parishad before the Director, Special Projects, who is the Appellate Authority and the Appellate Authority, i.e. Director, Special Projects may give reasonable opportunity of being heard to the aggrieved GRS and dispose of the appeal within three months of receipt of the appeal under intimation to the parties and the decision of the Appellate Authority, i.e. Director, Special Projects will be final and binding.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that liberty may be granted to the petitioner to approach the appellate authority and the period of limitation may be condoned. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respective parties, this writ petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the appellate authority. If any appeal along with an application for condonation of delay is filed, the same shall be considered by the said authority in accordance with law after giving opportunity of hearing to the parties within the time as stipulated in the aforesaid guidelines of the Government dated 06.04.2018.

Issue urgent certified copy as per Rules.

( S.K. Sahoo) Judge PKSahoo