LAWS(SC)-2026-5-49

STATE OF ODISHA Vs. SREEPATI RANJAN DASH

Decided On May 18, 2026
State Of Odisha Appellant
V/S
Sreepati Ranjan Dash Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE APPEALS : These two appeals, by special leave, at the instance of the common appellant - State of Odisha [State] - are directed against the common judgment and order dtd. 7/11/2025 [impugned order] passed by a Division Bench of the High Court of Orissa [High Court], dismissing two intra-court appeals [W.A. No.658 of 2023 and W.A. No.744 of 2023] that the State had carried from final orders dtd. 24/2/2023 and 28/2/2023 of a Single Judge allowing the writ petitions [W.P.(C) No.35645 of 2021 and W.P.(C) No.41042 of 2021] of the two respondents before this Court, viz. Sreepati Ranjan Dash [Dash] and Aditya Bhanjan Sahoo [Sahoo], finding no infirmity therein.

(2.) The basic facts giving rise to the impugned orders, though uncontested, have a history of their own. To the extent germane for disposal of the present appeals, the same are adverted to briefly hereafter.

(3.) Learned counsel for the State argued as follows: