BALLIGUDA BAPTIST CHURCH BAZAR MANDALI v. REVENUE DIVISIONAL COMMISSIONER, SOUTH DIVISION, GANJAM
WP(C)/1915/2026 · 2026-02-02
Sashikanta Mishra
Writ Petition (Civil)body1915
DailyLaw.ai
[ 1915 DAILYLAW 1 (ORI) · dailylaw.ai ]
DailyLaw.ai
[ 1915 DAILYLAW 1 (ORI) · dailylaw.ai ]
Judgment text
Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
W.P.(C) No.1915 of 2026
Balliguda Baptist Church Bazar Mandali ..... Petitioner
Represented by Mr.K.K.Jena, Adv -versus- Revenue Divisional, Commissioner, Southern Division, Berhampur and others ..... Opposite Parties
Represented by A.G.A.
CORAM:
JUSTICE SASHIKANTA MISHRA
Order No.
ORDER
02.2.2026.
01. 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.
2. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned Addl. Government Advocate for the State.
3. The Petitioner is aggrieved by order dated 11.6.2025 passed by the R.D.C. (S.D.), Odisha in OSSARC No.393/2023. The land in question was recorded as Government land- Sarbasadharan in 1965. The Petitioner claims to be in possession since 1961. Settlement was finalized in the year
1979. The land was recorded in Sarbasadharan khata as ‘Debastali’ kisam. The R.D.C. in the order impugned observed that the suit land is in possession of the Petitioner and as per the procedure laid down by Government, possession of 30 years is necessary. The Petitioner could not produce any document showing its possession for the stipulated period. The prayer to record the suit land in its favour was thus disallowed.
4. After hearing learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the State counsel, this Court is of the view that the question of title being involved, the revenue authority would not be competent to decide the same. The civil Court alone is competent in this regard.
5. The Writ Petition is therefore, disposed of leaving it open to the Petitioner to approach the competent civil Court seeking necessary declaration of title, if so advised.
6. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.
(Sashikanta Mishra) Judge AKB
Designation: A.D.R.-cum-Addl. Principal Secretary