p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.18699 of 2025 Kshamanidhi Meher and others …. Petitioners Mr.H.S.Mishra, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha and others …. Opposite Parties Mr.S.K.Mishra, Sr.Advocate for O.P.No.5 Mr.T.K.Dash, AGA CORAM: JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY ORDER 5.2.2026 Order No. 12. 1. Heard Mr.H.S.Mishra, learned counsel for the Petitioners and Mr.S.K.Mishra, learned Senior Counsel for Opposite Party No.5 and Mr.Dash, learned Addl. Government Advocate for the State. 2. The Petitioners have prayed for a direction to Opposite Parties 2, 3 & 4 to lift/purchase the surplus paddy, which has been delivered and lying at Sahala PACS campus, and to give minimum support price of the same to the Petitioners. 3. Opposite Party No.4, PACS has not filed any counter. But, Opposite Parties 2 & 3 have field their counter stating that surplus paddy kept by the Petitioners cannot be purchased, since they have neither registered their names for supply of such surplus paddy as per the norms in Notification No.4697/FS-CW dated 11th March 2025, nor they have noticed about the same to SoPC members. It is also stated that, as per the policy of Digitally Signed Signed by: CHITTA RANJAN BISWAL Reason: Authentication Location: Orissa High Court, Cuttack Date: 06-Feb-2026 10:41:14 Signature Not Verified p. 2 procurement dated 25th October 2024 issued by the Government, the surplus paddy has to be brought to the notice of the SoPC members within the last date, i.e., 30th June 2025. Further, the Petitioners did not turn up for sale of their surplus paddy till the last date. Apart from this, the quantity of the paddy needs to be examined before it is accepted for purchase. Since all the Petitioners have brought their paddy after procurement is closed, the same would not be purchased. 4. The Petitioners in reply to the same has filed the rejoinder stating that such contention made in the counter are blatant lies and falsehood. According to the Petitioners, such procedure narrated by Opposite Parties 2 & 3 for procurement of surplus paddy is not in terms of the prescribed guidelines because once token is issued, the same is an indication for procurement of the paddy upto 130 quintals. Further, according to the Petitioners, they delivered the paddy stocked in PACS premises before 30th June 2025, well within the prescribed period. 5. Upon hearing learned counsel for both parties including Mr.Dash, learned counsel for the State, since it is found admitted from the averment of the counter that such surplus paddy have been deposited in PACS, may be in heap as stated in the counter affidavit, this Court without getting into the technicalities whether such paddies have been unloaded before 30th June 2025 or not, directs Opposite Parties 2, 3 & 4 to take a final decision regarding purchase of the same in accordance with the guidelines. Such decision must be taken within two weeks Digitally Signed Signed by: CHITTA RANJAN BISWAL Reason: Authentication Location: Orissa High Court, Cuttack Date: 06-Feb-2026 10:41:14 p. 3 from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order along with a certified copy of the writ petition. 6. The writ petition is disposed of. ( B.P. Routray) Judge C.R. Biswal