High Court
Orissa High Court
Cuttack
The Orissa High Court was established in 1948. It has jurisdiction over the state of Odisha.
152+
News & Updates Published
Order
Permanent Committee Cannot Withhold/Defer Candidature of Advocates for Senior Advocate Designation: Orissa High Court
In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court has affirmed that the Permanent Committee responsible for recommending the designation of Senior Advocates cannot withhold or defer candidates' applications without presenting them to the Full Court. This decision came in the case of Sri Banshidhar Baug v. Orissa High…
Order
Court Reduces Juvenile Detention Period Who Was found Guilty For Anal Intercourse With 4 Year-Old Boy under S.377 IPC: Orissa High Court
In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court has upheld the conviction and sentencing of a Child in Conflict with Law (CCL) under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This decision concerns the appeal against a judgment from the Additional Sessions…
Order
Court Directs Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to Raise Awareness About Insurance Coverage for Cylinder Blast Incidents: Orissa High Court
On August 16, 2024, the Orissa High Court delivered a significant judgment regarding compensation for victims of a tragic gas leak fire incident. The case involved the late Santosh Kumar Sahoo and a petitioner who suffered grievous injuries and substantial losses due to the fire caused by a gas leak from an LPG…
Order
Disciplinary Proceedings Against Judicial Officer Can't Be Quashed Merely For Absence Of Affidavit Supporting Allegations: Orissa High Court
In a recent judgment, the High Court of Orissa addressed the validity of departmental proceedings initiated against a Senior Civil Judge, Santosh Kumar Agarwal. The decision focuses on compliance with the guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India regarding complaints against judicial officers. Case…
Order
Voter ID Card And Voter List Not Conclusive Proof Of Date Of Birth: Orissa High Court
In a recent decision by the High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, Justice Dr. S.K. Panigrahi addressed a dispute involving the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and a petitioner regarding a claim repudiation based on discrepancies in the date of birth. The judgment, delivered on July 24, 2024, emphasizes the…
Order
Court Upholds Conviction & Life Term Of Man For Committing Murder Of Mother & 18-Day-Old Brother: Orissa High Court
In a recent landmark judgment, the High Court upheld the conviction of an individual charged with the gruesome murder of his mother and infant brother. The court's detailed examination addressed several key aspects, including the applicability of Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the role of recovered…
Order
Didn't Use 'Sharp Side' Of Axe, Not Murder, Court Alters Conviction To Culpable Homicide: Orissa High Court
In a significant legal development, the Orissa High Court has reduced the conviction of Raja from Section 302, Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to murder, to Section 304 Part-I, Indian Penal Code (IPC), concerning culpable homicide not amounting to murder. This decision came following an appeal against the…
Order
Delay In Issuing Death Certificate, Court Asks Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation To Introduce 'Citizen's Charter', Set Service Delivery Timelines: Orissa High Court
In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court has directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to promptly issue necessary documents related to COVID-19 deaths, following a writ petition filed by Smt. Sakhilata Sahoo. The petitioner, claiming to be the widow of the deceased, sought these documents to secure…
Order
Women Attaining Motherhood Through Surrogacy Entitled To 'Maternity Leave': Orissa High Court
June 25, 2024: In a landmark judgment, the Odisha High Court has ruled that mothers who conceive through surrogacy are entitled to maternity benefits under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, ensuring parity with biological mothers. The case titled Supriya Jena v. State of Odisha & Ors., W.P.(C) No. 30616 of 2020,…
Document
Consumer Commission Has No Jurisdiction To Entertain Matters Coming Under Purview Of SARFAESI Act: Orissa High Court
A borrower, Ms. Anita Rao (name changed to protect privacy), defaulted on a loan from Central Bank of India. The bank initiated proceedings under the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI Act) to recover the debt. Ms. Rao challenged the bank's action…
Order
Lok Adalat 'Awards' Not Independent Verdict, Should Resist Temptation To Play Role Of Regular Judges: Orissa High Court
In a significant decision, the Orissa High Court at Cuttack has quashed an award passed by the Permanent Lok Adalat (PSU), Balangir-Sonepur-Balangir, in W.P.(C) No.16710 of 2014. The case involved a challenge to an award dated 04.07.2014 in PLA Case No. 43 of 2013, concerning installation of Coach Indication Boards at…
Order
Section 306 IPC, Merely Rejecting To Marry Girl After Being Engaged To Her Doesn't Amount To Abetment Of Suicide: Orissa High Court
In a recent ruling by the High Court of Orissa, Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was at the forefront of a case involving allegations of abetment of suicide. The case revolved around a young engineer named Priyank Tapuria and his relationship with Sheetal, leading to tragic consequences. 2. Case Details: The…
Judgment
Divorce Upheld After Cumulative Matrimonial Conduct Established Cruelty: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court at Cuttack has upheld a Family Court decree dissolving the marriage of Sadasivuni Siva Santosh Kumar and Sadasivuni Anusha Patnaik on the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan…
Judgment
Judicial Officer’s Resignation Quashed, Reinstatement Ordered After Finding It Was Tendered Under Duress: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has set aside the resignation of judicial officer Ipsita Mohanty after finding that her decision to resign was made under compelling circumstances arising from difficulties in securing continuous medical treatment and therapy for her autistic son. The Court held that the resignation could not be…
Judgment
'Judicial Harakiri': Magistrate Criticized for Ignoring Direction to Decide Maintainability of Cheque Bounce Case: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has sharply criticized a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) for dismissing a petition that questioned the maintainability of a cheque bounce case, despite clear instructions from the High Court to consider the matter. The High Court expressed serious concern over the Magistrate’s conduct,…
Judgment
Supreme Court's 'Mihir Rajesh Shah' Directive Mandating Written Grounds Of Arrest Applies Prospectively: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court recently examined an important legal issue regarding the requirement of providing written grounds of arrest to an accused. This issue was linked with the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Mihir Rajesh Shah v. State of Maharashtra & Anr., which made it mandatory to provide written…
Judgment
20-Year Sentence in POCSO Case Upheld, Later Marriage Cannot Erase Sexual Offence Against Minor: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court delivered an important judgment relating to sexual offences against minors and the effect of a later marriage between the accused and the victim. The case was decided under the provisions of Section 6(1) Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Section 376(2)(n) Indian Penal…
Judgment
Sukinda MLA Election Challenge Dismissed, Court Says Plea Lacks Material Facts: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court dismissed an election petition challenging the victory of Pradeep Bal Samant, the Member of Legislative Assembly from the 54-Sukinda Assembly Constituency in the 2024 Odisha Assembly Elections. The judgment was delivered on 27 February 2026 by Justice Sashikanta Mishra. The Court held that the…
Judgment
Teacher’s Removal Upheld for 7 Years of Unauthorized Absence, Court Says He Never Bothered About Fate of School Children: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court on 2 March 2026 upheld the disengagement of a female school teacher who had remained absent from duty for more than seven years without authorization. The Division Bench comprising Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad and Justice Chittaranjan Dash refused to interfere with the earlier order of the…
Judgment
Criminal Procedure Code and Dowry Prohibition Act Case Involving Quashing of FIR and Recall of Witness in Domestic Violence Proceedings: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court at Cuttack delivered an important judgment on 13 February 2026 in a matrimonial dispute involving allegations under Section 498A IPC, Section 406 IPC, Section 294 IPC, Section 323 IPC, Section 506 IPC, and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The judgment was passed by Dr. Justice…
Judgment
Tribunal Order on Compassionate Appointment of Adopted Son in Railway Case Upheld: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has refused to interfere with an order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack, which directed the Railway authorities to reconsider a claim for compassionate appointment made by the adopted son of a deceased railway employee. The Court held that the Tribunal’s reasoning was…
Judgment
JMFC Cognizance Order Set Aside in ₹70 Lakh Misappropriation Case; Fresh Reasoned Decision Directed: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court recently intervened in a criminal case involving alleged misappropriation of about ₹70 lakh and set aside an order passed by a trial court which had taken cognizance of two criminal offences at the same time. The High Court held that the order suffered from non-application of judicial mind and…
Judgment
Writ Petition Not Maintainable After GSTAT Becomes Functional; Assessees Must Avail Remedy under Section 112 of the GST Act: Orissa High Court
The High Court of Orissa at Cuttack recently addressed a writ petition filed by Mahendra Suniani challenging the order dated 11th November 2022 passed by the State Tax Officer-cum-Proper Officer, Sundargarh Circle, Sundargarh. The order pertained to tax periods from April 2019 to March 2020 under Section 74 of the…
Judgment
Father Cannot Be Denied Custody Merely for Failing to Produce Minor Child’s Birth Certificate: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has ruled that a father cannot be denied custody of his minor child merely because he failed to submit documents like a birth certificate or death certificate to prove paternity. The judgment came in the case Ramakanta Majhi v. Santan Majhi & Anr., where the Court stressed that the welfare of the…
Order
Pollution Case Against Tata Steel Quashed: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court at Cuttack has quashed criminal proceedings against M/s. Tata Steel Limited in connection with a pollution-control case involving erstwhile Bhushan Steel Limited (BSL). Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra passed the judgment on 30 September 2026 in CRLMC No.2406 of 2022. The State Pollution Control Board,…
Order
Victim Cannot Introduce Evidence During Trial That Was Not Included in Chargesheet: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has dismissed a criminal revision petition filed by Shashmita Nayak, who sought to introduce a pen drive as evidence during an ongoing trial. Justice V. Narasingh passed the judgment on 19th September, 2026 in CRLREV No. 997 of 2025. The case arises from S.T. Case No. 35 of 2022, connected to…
Order
Advocate Cannot Be Prosecuted for Client’s Acts Merely for Sending Legal Notice on Instructions: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has ruled that an advocate cannot be criminally prosecuted merely because he prepared and sent a legal notice on the instructions of his senior and on behalf of a client, unless there is prima facie material showing that the advocate knowingly participated in the alleged illegal activity or…
Order
Retirement No Ground to Drop Contempt Proceedings for Non-Compliance With Court Order; Notice Issued to Ex-DGP: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has issued a contempt notice to the former Director General of Police (DGP), Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, for repeatedly failing to comply with a court order. The court also found that the ex-DGP misled the court by hiding the department’s intention to file an appeal before the Supreme Court against…
Order
Pre-Arrest Bail Denied to Journalist Booked for Alleging Odisha Minister Offered Him a Bribe: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to Sudhanshu Sekhar Rout, Editor-in-Chief of the digital news platform Focus Plus, in a criminal case concerning alleged defamatory statements against Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond. Justice V. Narasingh held that, considering the…
Order
Breach of Promise to Marry Later Does Not Amount to Cheating Without Dishonest Intent from the Beginning: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court at Cuttack has delivered a landmark judgment, ruling that a promise to marry made by a man, which he later refuses to fulfill, does not automatically amount to cheating under Section 417 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra, in his judgment on July 30, 2026, emphasized that…
Order
Order Directing FIR Against Three Police Officers in Ponnani Rape Case Upheld: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has held that allegations of rape and sexual assault against police officers cannot be treated as acts committed in the discharge of official duty for the purpose of claiming protection under Section 175(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). The Court ruled that such…
Order
Refusal to Accept Court Notice Cannot Stall Proceedings; Affixture and Postal Service Held Sufficient: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has ruled that a party cannot intentionally avoid court notices and use such refusal as a method to delay judicial proceedings. In a matrimonial appeal, the Division Bench held that when a notice is sent to the correct address, refused by the recipient or family members, and later affixed at the…
Order
'Complete Apathy': Concern Over Police Treatment of Juvenile Prompts PIL Over 'Rampant Violation' of JJ Act: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has expressed serious concern over the manner in which children are being treated by the police during investigations and has converted a habeas corpus petition into a regular Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address the alleged widespread violations of the Juvenile Justice (Care and…
Order
Adult Wife Cannot Be Treated as Husband’s Property; Habeas Corpus Plea Dismissed with ₹50,000 Costs: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by a husband seeking production of his wife, holding that an adult woman has the complete freedom to decide where she wishes to reside. The Court observed that a Writ of Habeas Corpus cannot be misused to settle matrimonial disputes or to compel a…
Order
Prevention of Corruption Act | Missing Trap Money Alone Can't Defeat Corruption Trial; Quashing Plea Rejected: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has refused to quash a vigilance corruption case against a former Tahasildar and a private Amin, holding that mere non-recovery of tainted currency notes cannot automatically destroy a prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The judgment was delivered by Justice Dr. Sanjeeb K.…
Order
Dragging, Kissing and Putting Hand Inside Child's Clothes Amounts to Sexual Assault: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has upheld the conviction and seven-year jail sentence awarded to Bablu Verma in a case involving sexual assault on a child aged about eight years. The Court ruled that dragging a child, kissing her on the cheek and lips, and putting a hand inside her clothes clearly amounts to sexual assault…
No other news items found for Orissa High Court yet. Please check back soon.
About the Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court was established in 1948. It has jurisdiction over the state of Odisha.
Seat
Cuttack
State / UT
Odisha
Region
East India
