p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.33926 of 2025 Asish Trust, G. Udayagiri, Kandhamal and another …. Petitioner(s) Mr. Maheswar Mohanty, Advocate -versus- The Collector, Kandhamal and others …. Opp. Party(s) Mr. Debraj Mohanty, AGA CORAM: JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA Order No. ORDER 16.04.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 2. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, seeking the following relief:- “The petitioners humbly pray that your Lordships may kindly be pleased to admit the writ petition, issue notice to the Opp. Parties and after hearing the parties, the impugned demand letters i.e. letter No.1713 dtd.05.08.2024, letter No.1546 dtd.16.05.2025 and letter No.2968 dtd.25.10.2025 under Annexure-6 Series may kindly be set aside. And further be pleased to issue an appropriate direction to O.P. No.4 for disposal of Lease Case No.02 2008 within a time stipulate by this Hon'ble Court. And further be pleased to pass appropriate order/orders which would be deemed fit and proper in the above facts and circumstances of the case. p. 2 And for this act of kindness the petitioners shall as in duty bound ever pray.” 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that at this stage, he would press for the second prayer seeking a direction to the opposite party No.3- Tahasildar, G. Udayagiri for early disposal of the Lease Case No.02 of 2008. 4. Free, fair and speedy justice is not only a constitutional right but also a statutory right of the citizens. Therefore, the prayer made by the petitioners for early disposal of the Lease Case No.02 of 2008 pending before the opposite party No.3 deserves merit to be attended. It is also the bounden duty of the authority concerned to dispose of the matter in a time bound manner so as to avoid undue prolongation. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the opposite party No.3 to do well to see that the Lease Case No.02 of 2008 is disposed of as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of six months. It is open for the petitioners to file any other documents or materials before the opposite party No.3 to substantiate their case. This Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Swarna