IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK MATA No. 04 of 2024 Smt. Sandhya Rani Sahoo …. Appellant @ Mohanty Mr. B. Baug, Senior Advocate -versus-

Smt. Anusaya Mohanty …. Opposite Parties Mr. Bibekananda Bhuyan, Senior Advocate Mr. S.S. Bhuyan, Advocate CORAM:

THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH Date of Judgment: 02.04.2025 Chittaranjan Dash, J.:

1. By means of this appeal, the Appellant has challenged the judgment dated 12.12.2023 passed by the Learned Judge, Family Court, Bhubaneswar, in C.P. No. 576/2017, declaring the Respondent as the legally wedded wife of Late Kailash Chandra Mohanty and his legal heir, thereby entitling her to inherit his ancestral and self-acquired property.

2. The background facts of the case are that the Respondent, Anusaya Mohanty, initiated C.P. No. 576 of 2017 before the Family Court, Bhubaneswar, seeking a declaration that she is the legally wedded wife of Late Kailash Chandra Mohanty and his rightful legal heir. The Respondent claimed that their marriage took place on 05.06.1966 as per Hindu rites and customs, and they lived together, raising two sons. She further alleged that the Appellant, Sandhya Rani Sahoo @