p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.35652 of 2025 Pritish Patnaik …. Petitioner(s) Mr. Laxminarayan Patel, Advocate -versus- Odisha Information Commission, Bhubaneswar 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:- “Therefore, the petitioner prays that your Lordships may graciously be pleased to consider the facts stated in the petition, allow the same and issue Rule NISI to the Opp. Parties to show cause as to why a direction shall not be issued to the Opp. Party No.1 to dispose of the SA No.468/2025 (Annexure-3), pending before it, within a stipulated period of time.” 3. The petitioner in the present petition is seeking a direction to the opposite party No.1- for early disposal of the SA No.468/2025. 4. Free, fair and speedy justice is not only a constitutional right but also a statutory right of the p. 2 citizens. Therefore, the prayer made by the petitioner for early disposal of SA No.468/2025 pending before the opposite party No.1 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. It is also true that the boards of the authority are full, alive to the said fact, this Court expects the authority to do well to see that the SA No.468/2025 is disposed of as expeditiously as possible without entertaining unnecessary request of adjournments by either parties. It is also expected that the petitioner and all other contesting parties shall extend every cooperation to the opposite party No.1 for early disposal of the aforesaid case. This Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case. 5. With this observation, the writ petition is disposed of. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Swarna