IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.2610 of 2026 Narendra Nath Singh …. Petitioner Mr. Sailaza Nandan Das, Advocate -versus-

State of Odisha and others …. Opposite Parties Ms. Biswabara Dash, ASC CORAM:

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

ORDER

Order No. 17.02.2026

01. 1. Pursuant to a notice inviting tender from the intending bidders for an auction of the sairat sources, the petitioner was adjudged as the highest bidder and an agreement was entered into with the Government on 28^th December, 2020 for a period of five years.

2. Indubitably, the petitioner paid the royalty and other charges for the said financial year 2020-2021, but did not deposit the statutory amount for the rest of the financial years. The demand notice was issued followed by a reminder from the office of the Deputy Director of Mines, Khordha Circle, Khordha, but there was no response from the side of the petitioner. The show-cause notice was subsequently issued by the Mining Officer (In-charge), Khordha on 28^th November, 2024 followed by another show-cause notice dated 19^th December, 2024. All the aforesaid show-cause notices remained non-responsive and the authority the