Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 17-Jan-2026 14:58:19 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.988 OF 2026 ….

Shree Jagannath College of Nursing, Petitioner Cuttack Mr. Alok Kumar Panda, Advocate -versus-

….

State of Odisha and others Opp. Parties Mr. Manmaya Kumar Dash, Additional Standing Counsel (For Opp. Party No.1)

Mr. Rajani Chandra Mohanty, Advocate Mr. Kishroe Chandra Swain, Advocate (for Opposite Party Nos.2 to 4)

CORAM:

JUSTICE K.R. MOHAPATRA JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR MISHRA

ORDER

Order No. 16.01.2026

01. 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.

2. Vakalatnama filed by Mr. Rajani Chandra Mohanty, learned counsel and his associates on behalf of Opposite Party Nos.2 to 4 is received from the office and is taken on record.

3. The Petitioner, in this writ petition, seeks to assail the letter dated 31^st October, 2025 (Annexure-7) issued by the Odisha Nurses Midwives Registration Council (for brevity ‘the Council’) revoking the NOC granted in favour of the Petitioner-institution with effect from the academic session 2025-26 due to non-submission of Form- V Fire Safety Certificate from the District Fire Officer for G+4 building.

Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 17-Jan-2026 14:58:19

4. Mr. Panda, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that NOC in favour of the Petitioner-institution was granted vide letter dated 25^th September, 2023 by the Council and it was renewed from time to time. But without providing any opportunity of hearing to the Petitioner, the impugned letter under Annexure-7 has been issued revoking the NOC granted in favour of the Petitioner with effect from the academic session 2025-26 due to non-submission of Form-V Fire Safety Certificate. The Petitioner-institution thereby is prohibited to admit students for the academic session 2026-27. But the students who have taken admission in earlier academic sessions were allowed to complete the course.

5. Mr. Panda, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that in the meantime Fire Safety Certificate in Form-V has already been submitted before the Council on 11^th December, 2025. The same could not be produced earlier as it was not issued in favour of the Petitioner-institution and was pending with the Authority. He, therefore, submits that the Council should reconsider the case of the Petitioner by withdrawing the revocation order communicated to the Petitioner vide letter dated 31^st October, 2025 (Annexure-7).

6. Mr. Dash, learned Additional Standing Counsel prays for an adjournment to take instruction in the matter. It is submitted that at the time of consideration of renewal of NOC, the Petitioner- institution could not produce the Fire Safety Certificate. Thus, the order of revocation communicated to the Petitioner under Anneuxre-

7 was justified.

7. It is, however, submitted by Mr. Panda, learned counsel for the Petitioner that the last date of admission of students is 31^st Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 17-Jan-2026 14:58:19 January, 2026. Unless the case of the Petitioner is considered afresh by the Council for withdrawal of the revocation of NOC and the Petitioner-institution is allowed to admit students for academic session 2026-27, it will be highly prejudiced.

8. Mr. Swain, learned counsel appearing for the Council prays for an adjournment to take instruction in the matter.

9. Taking note of the submission made by learned counsel for the parties, this Court feels that adjourning the matter to enable learned Counsels for the Opposite Parties to take instruction in the matter will further delay the matter and in that process, the writ petition would render infructuous, as the Petitioner-institution may not be in a position to admit students for the academic session 2026- 27. Thus, taking into consideration the nature of grievance made and the order proposed to be passed, this Court proceeds to adjudicate the writ petition.

10. Upon hearing learned counsel for the parties and perusing the materials on record, this Court