IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P. (C) No.1160 of 2026 Madhusmita Das …. Petitioner Mr.Ramakanta Mohanty, Senior Advocate assisted by Mr.K.Mohapatra, Advocate -versus-

State of Odisha and others …. Opposite Parties Ms.Biswabara Dash, Additional Standing Counsel CORAM:

HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN

ORDER

18.02.2026 Order No.

01. 1. The spate of litigations are exploding the dockets of this Court when the Tahasildar of the respective jurisdictions are passing an order in relation to sand sairat sources after an amendment has been brought by virtue of a notification dated 27^th December, 2022 (the Odisha Minor Minerals (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022) redefining the term “authorized officer” to mean the Director of Mines and Geology or any officer duly authorized by the Government in writing for the purpose.

2. The fulcrum of the said amendment having brought into the Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 (for short, the “OMMC Rules”) is the transmission of the powers to the Mining Department and the conferment of power upon them. The said amendment takes effect on the date of publication in the official gazette which was admittedly publis