W.P. (C) No.14439 of 2024 Page 1 of 3 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P. (C) No. 14439 of 2024 Debasis Roul and another … ... Petitioners -Versus- Debasmita Das ... … Opp. Party Advocates appeared in this case: For Petitioners: Mr. Panchanan Panigrahi, Advocate For Opp. Party: Mr. Satyabadi Mohanty, Advocate CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MRUGANKA SEKHAR SAHOO J U D G M E N T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of hearing and judgment: 18th March, 2026 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MRUGANKA SEKHAR SAHOO, J. 1. Learned counsel for the parties were heard at length. 2. The writ petition has been filed by the husband in the marriage-father of the minor child aged about nine years. The father and daughter both are the petitioners. The daughter being minor is represented through her father. 3. The petitioners by filing the writ petition challenge the order dated 27.02.2024 passed by the learned Sr. Civil Judge, Anandapur in I.A. No.62/02 of 2023. The I.A. before W.P. (C) No.14439 of 2024 Page 2 of 3 the learned Sr. Civil Judge arises out of the C.P. Case No.13/2023. The said C.P. was filed by the husband in the marriage U/s.13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for dissolution of marriage solemnized between the parties to the C.P. on 28.04.2015. 4. The I.A. No.2 of 2023 was filed U/s.26 of the Hindu Marriage Act arising out of C.P. 13 of 2023 by the wife- mother of the minor child. Pursuant to the notice issued by the coordinate Bench on 02.08.2024, the opposite party- wife-mother of the child has appeared. The matter was referred to mediation by order dated 14.11.2024. The mediation has not yielded any result. 5. Today, the matter being in the list under the heading ‘For Admission’ is taken up for hearing. The learned counsel for the petitioners produces certified copy of the order dated 13.02.2026 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Sr. Division), Anandapur, which states thus: “Order dtd.13.02.2026 Advocate for the petitioner is absent. P.W.-1 is absent. No step taken on his behalf. From perusal of the case record, it is found that the case has been posted for further cross examination of p.W.-1. P.W.- 1 is absent on repeated calls. Hence in the above facts and circumstances the entire evidence deposed by P.W.-1 is hereby expunged as P.W.-1 is found absent, for his further cross examination. Put up on later for further order. Later Advocate for the petitioner is absent. No step is taken on behalf of the petitioner. Petitioner is absent on repeated calls. Hence the suit is dismissed for default of petitioner.” W.P. (C) No.14439 of 2024 Page 3 of 3 6. The learned counsel for the petitioner also files memo enclosing coloured photocopy of the certified copy of order dated 13.02.2026. The certified copy is returned to the learned counsel retaining the photocopy of the order. Photocopy of the order is also handed over to the learned counsel for the opposite party. 7. In view of dismissal of the C.P., the I.A. filed therein before the learned Civil Judge (Sr. Division), Anandapur U/s.26 of the Hindu Marriage Act would no more survive. In view of above, nothing survives for adjudication in the present proceeding before this Court. 8. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the opposite party that the custody of the child being with the petitioner- father the efforts of the mother seeking custody U/s.26 of the Hindu Marriage Act has been frustrated. In response to the said submission, it is observed that the mother of the child, if so advised shall avail remedy available for her under law seeking custody of the minor child. 9. The petition is disposed of with the above observations. (Mruganka Sekhar Sahoo) Judge Orissa High Court, Cuttack The 18th March, 2026/Radha