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2018 Supreme(Ori) 694
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA
KALPESH SATYENDRA JHAVERI, C.J. AND Dr.B.R. SARANGI, J.
O.J.C. No. 8979 of 2000
with O.J.C. No. 8845, O.J.C. No. 8847, O.J.C. No. 8915, O.J.C. No. 8916, O.J.C. No. 8978, O.J.C. No. 8980, O.J.C. No. 8981, O.J.C. No. 9011, O.J.C. No. 9012, O.J.C. No. 9013, O.J.C. No. 9014, O.J.C. No. 9015, O.J.C. No. 9085, O.J.C. No. 9086, O.J.C. No. 9087, O.J.C. No. 9088, O.J.C. No. 9089, O.J.C. No. 9090, O.J.C. No. 9091, O.J.C. No. 9198, O.J.C. No. 9199, O.J.C. No. 9200, O.J.C. No. 9232, O.J.C. No. 9233, O.J.C. No. 9320, O.J.C. No. 9483, O.J.C. No. 9610, O.J.C. No. 9611, O.J.C. No. 9613, O.J.C. No. 9615, O.J.C. No. 9618, O.J.C. No. 9622, O.J.C. No. 9624, O.J.C. No. 9625, O.J.C. No. 9626, O.J.C. No. 9628, O.J.C. No. 9629, O.J.C. No. 9630, O.J.C. No. 9631, O.J.C. No. 9632, O.J.C. No. 9633, O.J.C. No. 9634, O.J.C. No. 9635, O.J.C. No. 9636, O.J.C. No. 9637, O.J.C. No. 9704, O.J.C. No. 9778, O.J.C. No. 9779, O.J.C. No. 9782, O.J.C. No. 9785 of 2000
Decided on 20th August, 2018.
)
Laxmidhar Tarai ... Petitioner
Versus
Collector, Puri & another ... Opp. Parties
For Petitioner:Mr. Susanta Kumar Dash, Advocate
For Opp. Parties :Mr. B.P. Pradhan, Addl. Government Advocate
Headnote:ORISSA GOVT. LAND SETTLEMENT ACT, 1962 - Sec. 7 A (3) Suo motu jurisdiction - Collector issued notices pursuant to audit objection, after having slept over for nine years - Notices were allegedly served against dead persons - Clear violation of principles of natural justice and non-application of mind - No action taken against the officer, who was party to allotment of land - Held, poor people must not suffer at the ends of mighty Government when proceedings for cancellation of leases granted in 1972, were inititiated in 1999 - Order cancelling leases is quashed and set aside.
ORDER
Heard Mr.S.K.Dash, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.B.P.Pradhan, learned Addl. Government Advocate.
2. By way of these writ petitions, the petitioners have approached this Court against the action of the opposite parties, whereby the State Government has initiated proceedings pursuant to an audit objection, where it has been pointed out in the writ petition that a fraud has been committed. The audit objection was raised in the year 1990, pursuant to which notice was issued in the year 1999 and the lease which was granted in favour of the petitioners, was cancelled by the Collector, Puri by order dated 5th August, 2000.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has basically raised following contentions. He has contended that the order in Annexure-2 was passed in exercise of power under Section 7-A (3) of the Orissa Government Land Settlement Act, 1962. All the 51 persons were given common notice and by a common order the lease has been cancelled. The Revenue Inspector conducted an inquiry and reported that the land sought to be leased out has been recorded as ‘Anabadi’ yet the same comes under ‘Sarada-II’ class and is fit for cultivation. Learned counsel for the petitioner further contended that the land in question was not reserved for any specific purpose nor were there any standing trees. Thus, an area ranging from Ac.1.00 to Ac.2.00 was allotted in favour of the individual 51 applicants. The details of the 51 persons, referred to above, are reproduced below:
Sl. No.
O.J.C. Nos. Revision No. & Year
OGLS Case No. & Year
W.L.Lease
Name of the Settlees & Village
Area (Ac.)
01.
8916/2000
31/99
1575/72
Dukhi Shyam Biswal, Village: Hubasahi, P.S.:Brahmagiri
1.00
02.
8845/2000
32/99
1579/72
Bisikumari Nayak, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
03.
9611/2000
33/99
1582/72
Taapai Dei, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S. : Brahmagiri.
2.00
04.
8915/2000
34/99
1583/72
Dija Naik, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
05.
9632/2000
35/99
1585/72
Surendra Sahu, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri.
1.00
06.
8979/2000
36/99
1586/72
Laxmidhar Tarei, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri.
2.00
07.
9013/2000
3799
1587/72
Yudhistir Sahu, Vill : Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri.
2.00
08.
9628/2000
38/99
1589/72
Dhaneswar Parida, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri.
2.00
09.
9198/2000
39/99
1590/72
Manguli Tada, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri.
1.00
10.
9200/2000
40/99
1591/72
Kelu Sahu, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
1.00
11.
9199/2000
41/99
1592/72
Fakir Sahu, Vill.:Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
12.
9613/2000
42/99
1593/72
Aparti Nayak, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
13.
8981/2000
43/99
1594/72
Banambar Parida, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
14.
8847/2000
44/99
1595/72
Kumar Sahu, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
15.
8980/2000
45/99
1596/72
Nanda Sahu, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
16.
8978/2000
46/99
1597/72
Khetrabasi Nayak, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
17.
9626/2000
47/99
1598/72
Baraju Sahu, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
18.
9635/2000
48/99
1599/72
Panchu Naik, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
19.
9610/2000
49/99
1600/72
Padan Barik, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
20.
9012/2000
50/99
1602/72
Basudeb Tada, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
1.00
21.
9622/2000
51/99
1603/72
Ramachandra Naik, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
22.
9015/2000
52/99
1604/72
Prasana Kumar Nayak, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
1.00
23.
9014/2000
53/99
1606/72
Narayan Parida, Vill.: Kuapada, P.S.: Brahmagiri
2.00
24.
9785/2000
54/99
1608/72
Bira Na
