JUDGMENT

S.K. Mishra, J. - In this writ application, the petitioners, being the land oustees pray for issuance of writ of mandamus directing the opposite parties to extend the assured benefit to the petitioners in following Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, hereinafter called as PESA Act for brevity, by following the specific guidelines framed by the opposite party no.1 under the Orissa Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2006.

2. The petitioners claim that they are permanent residents of submerged area under the Deo Irrigation Project, Karanjia in the district of Mayurbhanj. They are agriculturists by profession. The immovable properties of the petitioners recorded in the record of rights have been acquired by the opposite parties for the purpose of Deo Irrigation Project. They also claimed that certain portion of their land is situated within the forest area. The petitioners, being the forest dwellers have maintained their families out of the forest products. The petitioners are identified as affected family and are coming under the submerged area of the Deo Irrigation Project. The opposite parties adopted a Rehabilitation and Resettlement