IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

W.P.(C) Nos.20875, 20894, 21429, 21775, 21788, 22020, 22526, 22584, 23131, 23220, 23265, 23838, 23840, 23988, 23992, 24003, 30666, 30965, 30968, 30980, 31067, 31139,

31556 & 32197 of 2025

In the matter of applications under Articles 226 & 227 of the

Constitution of India, 1950.

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Ranjan Kumar Tripathy

[In W.P.(C) No.20875 of 2025]

Fakir Mahananda

[In W.P.(C) No.20894 of 2025]

Smt. Jyotirmayee Jena

[In W.P.(C) No.21429 of 2025]

Mrs. Namita Mishra

[In W.P.(C) No.21775 of 2025]

Prabhati Naik

[In W.P.(C) No.21788 of 2025]

Jhinilata Sethi

[In W.P.(C) No.22020 of 2025]

Sarat Chandra Nayak

[In W.P.(C) No.22526 of 2025]

Ranjan Kumar Mahala

[In W.P.(C) No.22584 of 2025]

Nirakar Panda

[In W.P.(C) No.23131 of 2025]

Siva @ Siba Sankar Misra [In W.P.(C) No.23220 of 2025]

Santosh Kumar Dakshinray [In W.P.(C) No.23265 of 2025]

Sri Manas Kumar Giri [In W.P.(C) No.23838 of 2025]

Manas Kumar Das [In W.P.(C) No.23840 of 2025]

Narusu Sethy [In W.P.(C) No.23988 of 2025]

Ranjan Kumar Sethy [In W.P.(C) No.23992 of 2025]

Shankar Sethi [In W.P.(C) No.24003 of 2025]

Swarnapriya Sahoo [In W.P.(C) No.30666 of 2025]

Avimanyu Pani [In W.P.(C) No.30965 of 2025]

Prasanna Kumar Behera [In W.P.(C) No.30968 of 2025]

Swarnalata Behera [In W.P.(C) No.30980 of 2025]

Sasmita Senapati [In W.P.(C) No.31067 of 2025]

Ekadasi Behera [In W.P.(C) No.31139 of 2025]

Manaswini Hota [In W.P.(C) No.31556 of 2025]

… Petitioners Nirupama Sahoo [In W.P.(C) No.32197 of 2025]

-versus-

State of Odisha & Others [In all WPs except W.P.(C) No.32197 of

2025]

Secretary to Govt., S & ME Department & Others … Opposite Parties [In W.P.(C) No.32197 of 2025]

Advocates Appeared in these cases For Petitioners - M/s.Kunal Ku. Swain, K. Swain &

J.R. Khuntia, Advocates in W.P.(C)

Nos.23838, 23840, 30965 & 30968 of

2025.

M/s.Sukanta Ku. Dalai, P. Swain, S. Mahapatra, B. Bhuyan, J. Bhuyan &

S.K. Panda, Advocates in W.P.(C)

Nos.20875, 20894, 21788, 22020, 23220, 23988, 23992 & 24003 of 2025.

M/s.Durgesh Narayan Rath, A.K. Saa &

S.Das, Advocates in W.P.(C) Nos.22526, 22584, 23131 & 23265 of 2025.

M/s.Ramdas Achary, S.Das, S. Srichandan & P.Agarwal, Advocates in W.P.(C) Nos.30666 & 31067 of 2025.

Mr.Biswabihari Mohanty, Advocate in W.P.(C) Nos.30980 & 31139 of 2025 M/s.Mohit Ku. Pati, M. Pati, S. Kar &

S.S. Pati, Advocates in W.P.(C)

No.32197 of 2025.

M/s. (Dr.) Purusottam Chuli, P.Nath &

P.Punyatoya, Advocates in W.P.(C)

No.21775 of 2025.

M/s.Sameer Ku. Das, P.K. Behera &

N.Jena, Advocates in W.P.(C) No.21429 of 2025.

M/s.Agasti Kanungo, C. Nayak, N.K.Mishra & S. Sukla, Advocates in W.P.(C) No.31556 of 2025.

For Opp. Parties - Mr.Saroj Ku. Jee, Addl. Govt. Advocate in all W.Ps M/s.R.R.Ray, N.K. Sen, P.K. Samal & S.R. Mishra, Advocates for O.Ps.7 & 8 in W.P.(C) No.21429 of 2025.

M/s.K.K. Rout, S.K. Rout, S.K. Baral, P.N.Pattnaik, T.S. Swaraj, S. Sthitaprajna, S.Sahoo & S.K. Bhuyan, Advocates for O.P.4 in W.P.(C) No.22020 of

2025.

------------ CORAM HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DIXIT KRISHNA SHRIPAD ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date of Hearing : 24.11.2025 :: Date of judgment:27.11.2025 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER DIXIT KRISHNA SHRIPAD, J All these petitions, by a set of teachers, essentially seek to lay a challenge to the transfer orders. A few of the petitions involve the transfer orders that are put in challenge in the departmental appeals. Other few, call in question the letter no. SME-GHS-GHS-0125-2021 dated 13.05.2025, which provides for the MPs & MLAs recommending to the jurisdictional authorities the cases of transfer.

2. Learned advocates appearing for the petitioners made the following submissions in support of their cases:

(a) The impugned transfer orders are contrary to statutory Guidelines dated

14.05.2025, which regulates the transfer.

(b) The transfer Guidelines provides for decision making by the Committee on normative basis and that the transfer orders are vitiated because of political in