IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) Nos.21675, 23584, 23594, 23763, 24268, 24270, 24276, 24280, 24470, 24885, 25254, 25282, 25283, 25286, 25296, 25298, 25322, 25328, 25538, 25582 & 25611 of 2024 &

W.P.(C) No.32343 of 2025 In the matter of applications under Articles 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India Santosh Kumar Swain In W.P.(C) No.21675 of 2024 Basanta Kumar Nepak & Others (In W.P.(C) No.23584 of 2024) Chittaranjan Singh & Others (In W.P.(C) No.23594 of 2024)

Kasman Meher & Others (In W.P.(C) No.23763 of 2024)

Rutupriya Pani & Another (In W.P.(C) No.24268 of 2024)

Rashmita Sahoo (In W.P.(C) No.24270 of 2024)

Banashree Kananika Mohanty & Others (In W.P.(C) No.24276 of 2024)

Chandan Kumar Giri (In W.P.(C) No.24280 of 2024) Artatrana Khurdia & Another (In W.P.(C) No.24470 of 2024)

Purnima Behera (In W.P.(C) No.24885 of 2024)

Prajna Parimita Nayak (In W.P.(C) No.25254 of 2024)

Dharmaraj Sahu (In W.P.(C) No.25282 of 2024)

Rajanikanta Pradhan (In W.P.(C) No.25283 of 2024)

Dharani Munda & Others (In W.P.(C) No.25286 of 2024) Mamatarani Behera & Others (In W.P.(C) No.25296 of 2024)

Anita Tirkey & Another (In W.P.(C) No.25298 of 2024)

Swarna Prava Sahoo & Others (In W.P.(C) No.25322 of 2024)

Sanghamitra Patra (In W.P.(C) No.25328 of 2024) Brundabati Deheria & Others (In W.P.(C) No.25538 of 2024)

Sasanka Sekhar Jena & Another (In W.P.(C) No.25582 of 2024)

Himani Abhilipsa Badu & Another (In W.P.(C) No.25611 of 2024)

Bidhusmita Kar (In W.P.(C) No.32343 of 2025) …. Petitioners -Versus-

State of Odisha & others …. Opp. Parties In all W.Ps.

Advocates appeared in these cases:

For Petitioners : Mr.Asok Mohanty, Sr. Advocate &

Mr.Budhadev Routray, Sr. Advocate with M/s.Subhadutta Routray, S.K. Samal, S. Sekhar, A.K. Das, J.Biswal & M. Panda, Advocates except W.P.(C) No.32343 of 2025 M/s.Subhransu Bhusan Mohanty, S.Mohapatra & B.B.Mohapatra, Advocates in W.P.(C) No.32343 of

2025 For Opp. Parties : Mr.Dayanidhi Lenka.

Addl. Govt. Advocate, State-O.Ps.

Mr.P.K.Parhi, DSGI with Mr.Daranarayan Pattnayak, Sr. Panel Counsel for Union of India CORAM:

THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DIXIT KRISHNA SHRIPAD

J U D G M E N T

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Date of hearing & judgment : 17.12.2025 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER DIXIT KRISHNA SHRIPAD,J Shorn off thickness of pleadings and the plethora of documents accompanying the same, the essential grievance in all these petitions is against rejection of candidature for recruitment of Junior Teachers (Schematic)-2023, pursuant to Advertisement dated 10.09.2023 issued by OP No.2. The Notification No. 916/Estt dated 16.01.2024 specifically provides “Candidates applied with qualification of 18 months D.El.Ed. course from 2017-2019 through ODL from NIOS will not be entertained.‛ This is the banal part on which these Petitions having common fact matrix have been structured.

2. Learned Senior Advocates appearing for the Petitioners seek to falter the impugned action on the ground that their clients do satisfy the requisite qualification in the light of Apex Court decision in Jaiveer Singh & Ors. v. State of Uttarakhand & Ors.1 followed by the review judgment dated 10.12.2024. After service of notice, the OPs having entered appearance through the learned AGA have filed the counter affidavits resisting the petitions controverting petitioners’ version. Learned AGA appearing for the OPs, vehemently contends that the Advertisement prescribes a particular educational qualification, namely, a 2-Year Diploma, as specified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), whereas all these Petitioners do have 18-Month Diploma Course; the Apex Court decision in Jaiveer Singh supra as also the review judgment do not equate 18-Month Diploma to 2-Year Diploma. Lastly, he contends that the said judgment even otherwise is per incuriam. So contending, he seeks dismissal of writ petitions.

1. 2023 INSC 1024.

3. Hav