IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.25523 of 2014 . Anil Kumar Panda and others …. Petitioners Mr. G.C. Rout, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha and others …. Opposite Parties Mr. T.K. Dash, A.G.A. CORAM: JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY ORDER 15.04.2026 Order No. 07. 1. Heard Mr. G.C. Rout, learned counsel for the Petitioners and Mr. T.K. Dash, learned Additional Government Advocate for the State-Opposite Parties 1 & 3. No-one appears on call for the Opposite Parties 4 & 5, i.e. Railways and also no-one appears for Opposite Party No.2, i.e. Puri Municipality. 2. The Petitioners are the encroachers of Railways land and they were evicted from the encroached land of Railways as per the provisions contained in the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. Consequent upon their eviction, the Petitioners have prayed for their rehabilitation. 3. Admittedly, the Petitioners are sheer encroachers of Railways land. So their eviction cannot be questioned as illegal. However, regarding their prayer for rehabilitation, the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers Act, 2017 has came into force in the meantime. Taking note of the beneficial provisions of said Act, the writ petition is disposed of granting liberty to the Petitioners to Digitally Signed Signed by: BASANTA KUMAR BARIK Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 15-Apr-2026 17:29:08 Signature Not Verified approach Opposite Party No.2 in writing for their rehabilitation as slum dwellers. In the event the written representation is given by Petitioners to Opposite Party No.2 within a period of thirty days from today, the same shall be considered by Opposite Party No.2, in accordance with law, within a period of two months thereafter. 4. An urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application. ( B.P. Routray) Judge B.K. Barik