Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT, CUTTACK Date: 23-Apr-2026 18:10:32 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.454 of 2025 (In the matter of an application under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, 1950).

State of Odisha …. Petitioner(s)

-versus-

Sujata Singh and Another …. Opposite Party (s)

Advocates appeared in the case through Hybrid Mode:

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Tej Kumar, ASC For Opposite Party (s) : Mr. Binoda Kumar Mishra, Adv.

(for O.P. No.1)

CORAM:

DR. JUSTICE SANJEEB K PANIGRAHI DATE OF HEARING:-07.04.2026 DATE OF JUDGMENT:-17.04.2026 Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi, J.

1. In this writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction from this Court to quash the order dated 27.05.2024 passed by the Odisha Human Rights Commission in OHRC Case No. 356 of 2022, and to declare that the deceased does not qualify as a “Covid Warrior” under the applicable Government Guidelines, thereby disentitling the Opposite Party from any compensation thereunder.

I. FACTUAL MATRIX OF THE CASE

2. The brief facts of the case are as follows:

Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT,

CUTTACK Date: 23-Apr-2026 18:10:32 (i) Sanjib Kumar Das, husband of Opposite Party No. 1 (Sujata Singh), was engaged by the Bhubaneswa