IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK JCRLA No. 196 of 2025 Dasarathi Murmu ….. Appellant Ms. Nibedita Mohanty, Advocate -versus-

State of Orissa ..... Respondent Mr.Aurobinda Mohanty, ASC CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.S. MISHRA Order No. ORDER

08.12.2025

01. This matter is taken up through Hybrid arrangement (video conferencing/physical mode).

This jail criminal appeal has been received wherein it is pointed out that there is delay of 2773 days in filing the jail criminal appeal.

When we took up a similar matter in JCRLA No.183 of 2025 (Jatia Hembram -Vrs.- State of Odisha reported in 2025 LiveLaw (Ori) 156) on 26.11.2025, it was brought to our notice by the D.G. of Prisons that the special drive was conducted and more than 100 cases were detected, where the criminal appeals or jail criminal appeals numbers of the convicts were not available with the jail authorities and the convicts also could not furnish the same and accordingly, arrangements were made to take steps for preferring the jail criminal appeal. He had also assured this Court that the track records of all the appeals, which are being filed by the convicts, either by their own arrangement or through Legal Aid, the case numbers, the name of the counsel, the contact number of counsel, the status of the interim application including the bail filed in the appeal would be maintained and a sheet of paper containing all such details shall be provided to the respective convicts. He has also assured that if any convict, who is detained in custody, states before the jail authority that he has made his own arrangement to file the criminal appeal, the number of such appeal and the name of the counsel and the contact number of the counsel shall be ascertained, verified and records thereof to be kept for future reference.

Learned counsel for the State submits that this is one of such cases where the appellant had not preferred any appeal earlier and it could be detected after that special drive.

Since the appellant has been sentenced to imprisonment for life, taking into account his financial condition, we are inclined to condone the delay in filing the jail criminal appeal.

Admit.

Call for the trial Court records.

Ms. Nibedita Mohanty, Advocate bearing Enrolment No.O-410/1995 is appointed as an Advocate for the appellant.

Registry is directed to intimate the appellant about the engagement of the counsel.

Let a copy of the prisoner’s petition as well as copy of the impugned judgment be provided to the learned counsel for the State.

After receipt of the trial Court records, paper books shall be prepared and the matter will be listed for hearing.

( S.K. Sahoo)

Judge (S.S. Mishra )

Judge PKSahoo Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: PRAMOD KUMAR SAHOO Reason: Authentication Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA Date: 09-Dec-2025 12:40:20