A public authority must comply with principles of natural justice by providing an opportunity to be heard before issuing orders affecting rights.

JUDGMENT :

ANANDA CHANDRA BEHERA, J.

1. This writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, 1950 has been filed by the petitioner- Satyabhama WSHG praying for quashing the Office Letter/Order No.7651 dated 05.12.2025 under Annexure-1 issued by the Collector, Bolangir (Opp. Party No.3) disallowing the petitioner-WSHG from participating in the paddy procurement during the KMS 2025-26 and to direct the Opp. Parties for allowing the petitioner-WSHG to participate in the paddy procurement during the KMS 2025-26.

2. The case of the petitioner-SHG is that, as per the Letter No.4729 dated 01.08.2025 of the Chief Civil Supplies Officer, Bolangir, the petitioner along with other WSHGs were allowed to undertake farmers registration at their respective jurisdictional areas for the KMS 2025-26 (Kharif) subject to the final approval by the District Level Paddy Procurement Committee (DLPC). Thereafter, the petitioner WSHG prepared the list of registered farmers with farmer codes within its are for KMS 2025-26 (Kharif). The petitioner-WSHG also registered itself in the online registration of SHG under Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department. The CDPO, Gudvella had clarified to the jurisdictional areas of the petitioner-WSHG under Samara G.P of Gudvella Block in the District of Bolangir i.e. Samar, Lurki & Buromal. The CDPO, Gudvella vide Letter No.104 dated 29.10.2025 informed the said fact to the DSWO, Bolangir. The DSWO, Bolangir submitted the list of WSHGs before the CCSO, Bolangir, wherein the name of the petitioner finds place at Sl. No.16 indicating its PAC Code No.S2050601. The petitioner-WSHG received the grading equipments in functional condition from RMC, Bolangir for smooth procurement of paddy for KMS 2025-26. As per Office Letter/Order dated 28.11.2025 issued by the Collector, Bolangir (Opp. Party No.3), a training programme was conducted and in such training programme, the members of the petitioner-WSHG successfully completed their training.

The above conduct of the Opp. Parties is clearly clarifying that, petitioner-WSHG was fully equipped in its all respect for the procurement of paddy for KMS 2025-26. Mandi Nodal Officers and Mandi Supervising Officers were also duly appointed for the smooth progress of the paddy procurement system, but on 05.12.2025, suddenly, the Collector, Bolangir (Opp. Party No.3) unilaterally and illegally issued the impugned Office Letter/Order vide Annexure-1 disallowing petitioner-WSHG to participate in paddy procurement during KMS 2025-26 behind the back of the petitioner without giving any opportunity of being heard to the petitioner-WSHG for disallowing it from participating in the paddy procurement during KMS 2025-26.

For which, without, getting any way, the petitioner filed this writ petition against the Opp. Parties praying for quashing the impugned Letter/Order No.7651 dated 05.12.2025 vide Annexure-1 issued/passed by the Collector, Bolangir (Opp. Party No.3) disallowing the petitioner illegally without any reason from participating in the paddy procurement during the KMS 2025-26 Kharif.

3. I have already heard from the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the State.

4. The undisputed documents relied by the petitioner vide Annexures-3 to 11 are going to show that, the petitioner was fit in its all respect to participate during paddy procurement for KMS 2025-26 (Kharif) of Gudvella Block in the District of Bolangir and its PACS Code No. was S2050601, but, as per Letter/Order No.7651 dated 05.12.2025 (Annexure-1), the Opp. Party No.3 disallowed the petitioner-WSHG from participating in the paddy procurement d