IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK W.P.(C) No. 21588 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24094 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24095 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24103 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24216 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24240 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24256 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24424 of 2024, W.P.(C) No. 24441 of 2024 & W.P.(C) Nos. 25918 of

2024 ________________

Applications under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India.

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In W.P.(C) No. 21588 of 2024 Ashok Kumar Mohanty and others …. Petitioners Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

President, National Water Development Agency, Ministry of Jalshakti, Government …. Opp. Parties of India and others Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

Alok Kumar Mohanty, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24094 of 2024 Radhu Charan Behura …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

Manoj Kumar Pati, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24095 of 2024 Surendra Nath Gouda …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

D. Gochhayat, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24103 of 2024 Kailash Chandra Samal …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

Biswajit Maharana, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24216 of 2024 Jugal Kishore Muduli …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

D. Gochhayat, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24240 of 2024 Sk.Arif Hussain …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

B.K.Pardhi, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24256 of 2024 Ramanath Panda …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

M.K. Pradhan, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24424 of 2024 Udaya Kumar Rath …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Ms.

S.Patro, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 24441 of 2024 Madan Mohan Dhal …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Mr.

M.K. Pati, CGC In W.P.(C) No. 25918 of 2024 Ananta Prasad Patra …. Petitioner Mr.S.K. Ojha, Advocate -versus-

Union of India and others …. Opp. Parties Mr. P.K. Parhi, DSGI along with Ms.

S.Patro, CGC ---------------------

P R E S E N T:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date of Hearing & Judgment: 13.01.2025 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY THE BENCH Since common questions of law and fact are involved in all these writ petitions and one common impugned order has been challenged by the petitioners in these writ petitions, with the consent of the learned counsel for the respective parties, they are heard together and disposed of by this common order.

2. The petitioners, who are the retired employees of National Water Development Agency have filed these writ petitions challenging the common order dated 24.07.2024 passed by the learned Central Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack Bench, Cuttack in O.A. No.50 of 2021, O.A. No. 215 of 2023, O.A. No.194 of 2024, O.A. No. 610 of 2022, O.A. No.608 of 2022, O.A. No.613 of 2022, O.A. No. 213 of 2023, O.A. No.25 of 2024, O.A. No. 413 of 2024 and O.A. No. 612 of 2022 under Annexure-1, whereby the learned Tribunal has been pleased to dismiss the Original Applications.

3. The short fact of the case is that in the year 1982 as a matter of Policy, the Government of India set up National Water Development Agency (in short, ‘NWDA’) under the Ministry of Jalshakti, Government of India, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, as an autonomous society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The basic ground for creation of NWDA is