ORDER

08.04.2026

W.P.(C) No.264 of 2025

Order No. & 11. I.A. No.15099 of 2025

1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement.

2. The present interim application has been filed by the Petitioner seeking a direction for consideration and disposal of its application for grant of Consent to Operate, which is stated to be pending before

Signature Not Verified Digitaly Signed S D i e g s n i e g d n a b t y io : n S : I S P e U n N io B r E S H te E n R og A rapher the State Pollution Control Board.

Reason: Authentication Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK Date: 09-Apr-2026 18:58:22

the State Pollution Control Board.

3. Heard Mr. Baibaswata Panigrahi, learned counsel for the Petitioner, Mrs. Sarita Moharana, learned counsel for the State and Mr. Susanta Kumar Mishra, learned counsel appearing for Opposite Party No.3.

4. It is stated at the Bar that despite filing of Application No.3236075 dated 03.12.2020 before the State Pollution Control Board, the same has not yet been disposed of.

5. This Court, while passing the order dated 25.11.2025 in the aforesaid interlocutory application, had directed that the application of the Petitioner be processed. It was further observed that before taking any final decision, the Opposite Parties shall seek leave of this Court.

6. Considering the submissions advanced and upon perusal of the records, this Court is of the considered view that the pending application of the Petitioner deserves to be disposed of within a time-bound period.

7. Accordingly, the State Pollution Control Board is directed to consider and dispose of the Petitioner’s application for grant of Consent to Operate, bearing Application No.3236075 dated 03.12.2020, strictly in accordance with law, within a period of ten (10) days from the date of communication of this order.

8. It is further directed that in the event the State Pollution Control Board finds the Petitioner’s unit to be compliant and eligible on merits, it shall be at liberty to grant Consent to Operate in favour of the Petitioner.

9. Upon grant of such consent, the same shall be duly intimated to the learned Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and the learned OHRC shall thereafter pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.

10. The learned OHRC shall consider the matter independently, taking into account the findings of the State Pollution Control Board, and pass necessary orders in accordance with law.

11. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case and all authorities shall take an independent decision strictly in accordance with law.

12. With the aforesaid observations and directions, the interim application as well as the Writ Petition stand disposed of.

13. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per Rules.