High Court
Orissa High Court
Cuttack
The Orissa High Court was established in 1948. It has jurisdiction over the state of Odisha.
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News & Updates Published
Order
Having ‘Lived a Socially Respectable Life,’ Sentence of Septuagenarian Convicted in 1998 for Outraging Modesty of SC Woman Reduced: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court at Cuttack delivered its judgment on 14 October 2025 in CRA No.79 of 1998, where G. Krutibasa Patra @ Gudla Krutibas Patra was the appellant and the State of Odisha was the respondent. The appeal was filed under Section 374(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 against the judgment and order…
Order
Bank Cannot Unilaterally Withdraw Funds from Joint Account to Recover Loan Owed by One Account Holder: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court, in a significant judgment delivered on October 17, 2025, held that a bank cannot unilaterally deduct money from a joint account to recover a loan owed by only one of the account holders. The ruling came in the case Bharat Chandra Mallick VERSUS Branch Manager, State Bank of India, where Justice…
Order
Anticipatory Bail Denied to Two Accused in Alleged Murder of Assistant Forest Conservator Soumya Mohapatra: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions filed by the then District Forest Officer (DFO), Paralakhemundi, and his cook for their alleged involvement in the mysterious death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra. The case, which dates back to July 12, 2021, was…
Order
No Cognizance Maintainable in ‘GR Case’ After Acceptance of Closure Report; Protest Petition to Be Treated as Complaint for Cognizance: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has ruled that once a closure report filed by the police is accepted due to lack of evidence, the Magistrate cannot take cognizance of the case in the same General Register (G.R.) case. The judgment, delivered by Justice Chittaranjan Dash, emphasizes that after accepting a closure report, the…
Judgment
Court May Direct Deposit of 100% of Awarded Amount Before Granting Stay Under Section 36(3) of Arbitration Act: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court at Cuttack, presided over by Dr. Justice Sanjeeb K Panigrahi, delivered a detailed judgment on 10 October 2025, concerning two writ petitions — W.P.(C) No.21111 of 2025 and W.P.(C) No.24348 of 2024. Both petitions revolved around the enforcement and stay of an arbitral award under the Arbitration…
Order
Cheque Dishonour Proceedings Maintainable Against Directors and Signatories Even If Company Is Declared Insolvent: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Syed Najam Ahmed, Managing Director of Zenith Mining Private Ltd., seeking discharge from criminal prosecution under Section 138, Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, despite the initiation of corporate insolvency proceedings against the company. The court ruled…
Order
S.138 NI Act | Directors Cannot Avoid Liability for Cheque Dishonour Merely Because the Company Has Been Declared Insolvent: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court recently ruled that directors of a company cannot escape criminal liability for cheque dishonour under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 merely because the company was declared insolvent and a Resolution Professional was appointed under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.…
Order
Premature Withdrawal of Post Bank Fixed Deposit for Marriage Allowed, Recognised as 'Necessity' Under Hindu Law: Orissa High Court
In a significant ruling balancing statutory rules with personal necessity, the Orissa High Court in W\.P.(C) No. 18858 of 2025, titled Priyadarsini Das v. Union of India & Others, directed the Post Bank of India to allow a woman to prematurely encash her fixed deposits under the National Savings Time Deposit Scheme,…
Order
S. 250(1) BNSS | POCSO Accused Entitled To File Discharge Plea Within 60 Days Of Receiving Police Papers: Orissa High Court Lays Down Guidelines
In a significant ruling, the Orissa High Court has addressed a legislative gap in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, relating to the filing of a discharge application by an accused in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), 2012. The Court held that in such cases,…
Order
Unfair To Generalise That Wives Are Breeding A Class Of Idle Women To Burden Husbands With Maintenance: Orissa High Court
In a significant judgment, the Orissa High Court has ruled that merely having a high qualification does not mean that a wife is intentionally unemployed to burden her husband with maintenance obligations. The Court clarified that unless there is material evidence of income or strong proof of the wife's potential to…
Order
NHRC Proceedings Against KIIT University in Nepali Student Death Case Stayed: Orissa High Court
In a significant development, the Orissa High Court has granted interim relief to the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) by staying all proceedings initiated by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in connection with the alleged suicide of a female Nepalese student in February 2025. The student,…
Order
Judicial Functions Increasingly Sensitive Due to Unregulated Social Media: Orissa High Court
Judicial functioning in the digital era is under increasing pressure, especially from unregulated social media criticism. The Orissa High Court, in a recent decision delivered on July 11, 2025, raised concerns over online trolling and its effect on the independence and morale of the judiciary. This observation came…
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…
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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
