Dr.Priyaranjan Maral v. State Of Odisha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

W.P.(C) No.39640 of 2021 Dr. Priyaranjan Maral & Ors.

....

Petitioners Mr. Saswat Das, Adv.

-versusState of Odisha and Ors.

....

Opposite Parties Mr. P.K. Mohanty, Sr. Adv.

(for OPSC) Mr. M.K. Mishra, Sr. Adv.

(for O.P.8) Mr. D.P. Nanda, Adv.

Mr. A. Acharya, Adv.

(for O.Ps.9 to 11

CORAM:

DR. JUSTICE S.K. PANIGRAHI Order No.

ORDER

11.07.2022 .

1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement.

2. Learned counsel for the parties are present. Judgment prepared in separate sheets is delivered and pronounced in open Court in the presence of learned counsel for the parties and the order is passed accordingly as follows:-

3. Consequently, this Court finds merit in the plea of the petitioner that there were reasonable grounds for an apprehension that the selection of candidates was vitiated

// 2 // by bias. The Writ Petition is thus allowed. However, while allowing this Writ Petition, this Court makes it clear that nothing stated in this judgment is meant to cast any reflection whatsoever on the eminence, credentials and achievements of Opposite Party No.8 and other candidates. This Court also held the OPSC and the experts invited for the interview in high esteem and this may be treated as a stand-alone aberration without any iota of erosion of this Court's faith in their efficiency and integrity. It will be open to the appointing authority to appoint a fresh Selection Committee through OPSC for the purpose of recruitment for the post of Assistant Professor of Psychology in order to allay any kind of apprehension in the minds of the candidates.

4. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of. (Dr. S.K. Panigrahi) Judge BJ