WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 1 ORISSA HIGH COURT : CUTTACK WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 An application under Articles 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India. *** Gudi Thakurani Women Self Help Group, Chalanguda, Jujhari, Boriguma Block represented through its Secretary, Gangi Nayak, District-Korapaut … Petitioner. -VERSUS- State of Odisha & Others … Opposite Parties. Counsel appeared for the parties: For the Petitioner : Mr. M.K. Mohapatra, Advocate For the Opposite Parties : Mr. S. Nayak, ASC P R E S E N T: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANANDA CHANDRA BEHERA Date of Hearing : 04.02.2026 :: Date of Judgment : 09.02.2026 WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 2 JUDGMENT ANANDA CHANDRA BEHERA, J.— 1. This writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, 1950 has been filed by the petitioner- WSHG praying for directing the Sub-Collector, Jeypore, Koraput to dispose of the representation dated 09.12.2025 (Annexure-8) of the petitioner-WSHG and also to direct the Opp. Party No.5 (Chief Civil Supplies Officer-Cum-District Manager, Koraput) for the issuance of handling order of the Challanguda Jujhari Mandi to the petitioner-WSHG for procurement of paddy for KMS 2025-26 (Kharif) and not to engage any other new SHGS/ LAMPS/Pani Panchayats for handling Challanguda Jujhari Mandi during paddy procurement for KMS 2025-26 till the disposal of the representation dated 09.12.2025 (Annexure-8) of the Petitioner and to pass any other order/orders as the Court deems fit and proper. 2. The case of the petitioner-WSHG is that, the petitioner- WSHG along with 24 other WSHG were handling their WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 3 respective village Mandis during 2025 Rabi procurement season under Jeypore RMC sub-Division. They (petitioner) along with all 24 WSHGs gave representations on dated 09.12.2025 to the sub-Collector, Jeypore to allow them to handle their respective village Mandis as before during procurement for KMS 2025-26 (Kharif season). The annexure- 8 dated 09.12.2025 is the presentation of the petitioner before the Sub-Collector, Jeypore. All the representations including Annexure-8 of the petitioner-WSHG were published in the daily newspapers as per Annexure-9 to draw the attention of the farmers as well as the higher authorities. In the meantime, though the authorities finalized the handling of other village Mandis with some Pani Panchayats and LAMPS, but, they did not give the handling order of the village Mandi to the petitioner-WSHG, though, the farmers of the operational area of its village Mandi have already been received their registration codes, token numbers with reflection of the date of procurement of paddy from last week of December-2025 to last week of Jan-2026 along with place of Mandi, without indicating the exact date and time for the same. For which, WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 4 the petitioner is very much apprehensive. Till yet, the authorities are not finalizing the handling of Challanguda Juhari Mandi in favour of the petitioner-WSHG with some malafide political vendetta. Therefore, the action of the authorities more specifically Opp. Party No.5 and 6 for not finalizing the handling of Challanguda Jujhari Mandi in favour of the petitioner-WSHG is highly illegal. For which, necessary direction is required to be given to the Opp. Parties to finalize the handling of Challanguda Jujhari Mandi in favor of the petitioner-WSHG. The petitioner-WSHG has already incurred expenditures, Mobilizing the farmers and purchasing required materials for handling such Mandi. If the handling of Challanguda Jujhari Mandi shall not be given to the petitioner-WSHG and if the same will be given to any other LAMPS/PAC, then, the petitioner-WSHG shall sustain serious financial loss and shall be prejudiced. For which, without getting any way, the petitioner-WSHG approached this Court by filing this writ petition praying for directing the Opp. Parties to allow the petitioner-WSHG for handling the Challanguda Jujhari Mandi for procurement of paddy for KMS WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 5 2025-26 and not to engage/select any other new LAMPS/PAC to handle that Mandi. 3. The Opp. Party Nos.3 and 5 have submitted their counter affidavit objecting to the writ petition of the petitioner stating that, mere submission of the representation does not bind the authorities, nor does it override administrative decisions of the same in accordance with the policy. The engagement of LAMPS/Pani Panchayats in certain areas for certain Mandis have been made on the basis of suitability and administrative exigency. Therefore, the writ petition filed by the petitioner is liable to be dismissed. 4. I have already heard from the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Addl. Standing Counsel for the State. 5. After hearing from the learned counsels of both the sides and taking the writ petition and the counter affidavit of the Opp. Party Nos.3 & 5 into account, it is held that, the petitioner-WSHG has submitted its representation on dated 09.12.2025 (Annexure-8) before the Sub-Collector, Jeypore praying for allowing the petitioner-WSHG for handling WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 6 Challanguda Jujhari Mandi for the paddy procurement for KMS 2025-26 for the welfare and benefit of the registered farmers of the said Mandi, but, the said representation dated 09.12.2025 (Annexure-8) of the petitioner-WSHG has not been disposed of by the Sub-Collector, Jeypore till yet. Therefore, the prayer of the petitioner-WSHG to direct the Sub-Collector, Jeypore for disposing of the representation dated 09.12.2025 (Annexure-8) of the petitioner-WSHG cannot be disallowed, though, the other prayers of the petitioner- WSHG cannot be allowed. For which, the writ petition filed by the petitioner-WSHG is to be allowed in part. 6. As such, there is some merit in the writ petition filed by the petitioner-WSHG. The same is to be allowed in part. 7. In result the writ petition filed by the petitioner is allowed in part. The Sub-Collector, Jeypore in the District of Koraput is directed to dispose of the representation dated 09.12.2025 (Annexure-8) of the petitioner-WSHG pending before him within a period of 15 days from the date of filing of the WP(C) No.36828 of 2025 p. 7 certified copy of this Judgment after giving opportunity of being heard to the members of the petitioner-WSHG and others, if any, and to intimate the result of the disposal of the representation to the petitioner-WSHG. 8. As such, this writ petition filed by the petitioner is disposed of finally. (ANANDA CHANDRA BEHERA) JUDGE High Court of Orissa, Cuttack The 09 .02. 2026// Rati Ranjan Nayak Sr. Stenographer Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack, India.