IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK CRLMC No.78 of 2026 Ananda Chandra Jena & ..... Petitioner (s) Ors. Mr. Pratap Chandra Mishra, Advocate -versus-

State of Odisha & Anr. ….. Opposite Party (s)

Mrs. Sarita Moharana, ASC CORAM:

THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SANJEEB K PANIGRAHI

ORDER

20.01.2026 Order No.

01.

1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement.

2. The Petitioners have filed this CRLMC with a prayer to quash the order dated 25.04.2025 passed in G.R. Case No.207 of 2019 by the learned JMFC, Hatadihi vide Annexure-3 series.

The Petitioners further sought for a direction from this Court to the learned JMFC, Hatadihi to allow them to be represented through their learned counsels till the end of the trial in connection with G.R Case No.207 of 2019.

3. Learned counsel for the Petitioners submits that the learned JMFC, Hatadihi issued summons to the accused persons for their appearances. The present petitioners being accused persons appeared through their learned counsel and filed a petition under Section 205 of the Cr.P.C. for dispensing with their personal appearances during trial and to allow them to be represented through their counsels. The learned court below did not consider the simple prayer of the Petitioners and rejected the petition filed by the Petitioners under Section 205 of the Cr.P.C. on 25.04.2025.

4. Considering the prayer made by the learned counsel for the Petitioners, this Court is of the view that since virtual mode is a prevalent technology being used in Indian courts widely, hence, the Petitioners should be allowed to appear through virtual mode from a remote location wherever they are. However, if the Court feels that the presence of the Petitioners in the Court is iminent and cannot be done through virtual mode on any particular date, the Court may insist their presence. The routine appearance before the court can be done through virtual mode.

5. In view of the above, this Court set aside the order dated 25.04.2025 passed by the learned JMFC, Hatadihi in G.R. Case No.207 of 2019. The Petitioners are allowed to appear through virtual mode.

6. Accordingly, the CRLMC is disposed of.

(Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi)

Judge Gitanjali