Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2025 Supreme(Ori) 358

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
Manash Ranjan Pathak, Mruganka Sekhar Sahoo, JJ.
Union of India & Others - Petitioners
Versus
Shashikanta Muduli - Opposite Party
W.P.(C) No.24546 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.15519 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.17392 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.22266 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.23030 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.23294 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.23692 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.23818 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.24123 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.24420 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.24448 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.25064 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.25083 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.25600 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.25784 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.26668 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.26788 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.27799 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.29246 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.29285 of 2025, W.P.(C) No.29392 of 2025
Decided On : 01-12-2025

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Darpanaran Pattnayak, Sr. Panel Counsel

Judicial efficiency in managing writ petitions involves ensuring defect-free submissions and proper tagging of cases to facilitate streamlined court proceedings.

Headnote:(A) Central Administrative Tribunal Act - Procedures for Writ Petitions - The Union of India filed multiple writ petitions challenging decisions of the Central Administrative Tribunal. The court directed the preparation of a consolidated list of all such petitions, highlighting the need for defect-free submissions and proper tagging. (Paras 2, 4, 6)

(B) Judicial Procedure - Tagging of cases - The court emphasized the importance of efficient case management, allowing de-tagging of unrelated petitions while ensuring proper procedures for future listings. (Paras 4, 6)

Facts of the case:
The Union of India initiated multiple writ petitions against orders from the Central Administrative Tribunal, with 19 cases tagged for consolidated consideration.

Issues: The main issues were related to the proper listing of writ petitions, the presence of defects in some filings, and the necessity for them to be resolved for efficient court processing.

Findings of Court:
The court mandated a consolidated memo to outline the status of all tagged writ petitions and required that all defects be rectified before further listings.

Ratio Decidendi: The court differentiated between connected and unconnected petitions, affirming the need for clarity and efficiency in managing caseloads by ensuring all submissions are thorough and defect-free.

Result: The court scheduled further proceedings for December 10, 2025, and ordered a memo circulation by December 5, 2025.

Table of Content
1. court's order for listing matters. (Para 1)
2. consolidation of similar writ petitions. (Para 2)
3. directions for preparation of consolidated memo. (Para 3)
4. de-tagging of writ petition no.25784. (Para 4)
5. next listing date set for hearing. (Para 5)
6. defects in writ petitions noted. (Para 6)
7. ensuring defect-free petitions. (Para 7)

ORDER :

1. This matter is listed before this Bench as per the orders of Hon’ble the Chief Justice in the administrative side dated 19.09.2025.

2. Mr. Pattnayak, learned Senior Panel Counsel along with Mr. Rajesh Mohapatra learned Senior Panel Counsel bring to the notice of the Court that similar writ petitions have been filed by the Union of India and the Ministry of Railways, challenging several orders passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal.

As per the assignment, some of the matters were listed before a Coordinate Bench presided by Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.R. Mohapatra. As requested by the said Coordinate Bench, the matters were placed before Hon’ble the Chief Justice in the administrative side. Thereafter, by the order of Hon’ble the Chief Justice dated 17.11.2025, 19 Writ Petitions have been tagged together.

3. In view of the above, it is directed the learned Senior Panel Counsel and learned Central Government Counsel appearing for the Union of India shall prepare a consolidated list of all the Writ Petitions filed by the Union of India and file it with a memorandum. It shall also be indicated in the memo, how many matters out of those have already been listed and how many are yet to be listed and also whether all the matters have been assigned to this Bench or not.

Before filing the memo, shall be circulated amongst all the learned counsel appearing for the opposite parties including the learned instructing counsel Mr. Sikdar appearing for the opposite parties in two Writ Petitions along with Mr. Bose, learned Senior Advocate. The instructing counsel shall also verify the said memo regarding listing of the matters before this Bench.

4. Mr. M.K. Khuntia, learned Counsel submits that W.P.(C) No.25784 of 2025 has been tagged to the present batch of Writ Petitions though not connected.

The learned Senior Panel Counsel representing Union of India agree with the said submission.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition No.25784 of 2025 shall be de-tagged and listed under the heading ‘Fresh Admission’ on 12^th December, 2025.

Copy of this order shall be kept in the said Writ Petition No. 25784 of 2025.

5. List under the same heading on 10^th December, 2025.

The memo as directed above shall be circulated by 5^th December, 2025.

6. It is brought to our notice by the learned Senior Advocate appearing for the opposite parties in the connected Writ Petitions No.15519 of 2025 and 17392 of 2025, which have been tagged that in some of the Writ Petitions defects pointed out by SR have not been removed.

7. The learned Senior Panel Counsel as well as the learned Central Government Counsel is appearing on behalf of the petitioners shall ensure, all the petitions are defect free including the petitions those may be further listed /tagged together.

Upon furnishing of the memo to be circulated and signed by all the appearing learned counsels, Registry shall verify if other similar matters are still pending to be listed and list the same under the same heading.

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