Page 1 of 3. IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK WP(C) No.36624 of 2025 Ambika Prasad Samantaray ..... Petitioner Represented by Adv. - Sangram Jena -versus- 1) State Of Odisha ..... Opposite Parties 2) Director Of Higher Education 3) Commissioner -cum- Secy, To Govt, School And Mass Education 4) Director Higher Secondary Education Odisha 5) Gb Of Sri Jagannath Higher Secondary School Represented by Adv. – Mr. U.C.Jena, A.S.C. CORAM: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ADITYA KUMAR MOHAPATRA Order No. ORDER 12.01.2026 01. 1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual /Physical Mode). 2. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner as well as learned Additional Standing Counsel for the State-Opposite Parties. Perused the writ application as well as the prayer made therein. 3. The Petitioner has filed the present writ application with the following prayer: “It is therefore, most humbly prayed that this Hon'ble Court be graciously pleased to:- i) Admit the writ application. ii) Call for the records. iii) Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other writ/writs, order/Orders, direction/directions, directing the State-Opposite parties, to extend the benefit of Page 2 of 3. placement in the Lecturer (Group-A) Scale of pay as well as Reader (State Scale) scale of pay in favour of the petitioner w.e.f 26.02.2013 and 26.02.2023 respectively, in terms of the provision provided under the Odisha Non-Government Aided College Lecturer's Placement Rules, 2014 under Annexure-5 read with the clarificatory letter dated 20.01.2016 issued by the Government of Odisha in Higher Education Department, Bhubaneswar under Annexure-6, keeping in view the ratio decided by this Hon'ble Court in the case of Lokanath Behera Vs. State of Odisha and others (W.P.(C) No.2062 of 2024 disposed of on 13.08.2025), and further the petitioner may be extended with all other consequential service and financial benefits along with differential arrears as due and admissible, within a reasonable time to be stipulated by this Hon'ble court. iv) And/or pass such other order/orders, direction/directions as this Hon'ble Court may deems fit and proper for the ends of justice.” 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner, drawing attention of the Court to his client’s representation dated 03.09.2025 submits that his client would be satisfied if a direction is given to consider the said representation in a time bound way keeping in view the law declared by this Court in W.P.(C) No.2062 of 2024 between Lokanath Behera v. State of Odisha disposed of on 13.08.2025. 5. Learned ASC very fairly agrees that the subject representation should meet its fate at the hands of OP No.1 and he would ensure that would happen. With this proposal, counsel for the Petitioner is agreeable. 6. In the above circumstances, writ petition is disposed of. Time for compliance is eight weeks which would include communicating the decision taken on the subject representation to the Petitioner. All contentions are kept open. It hardly needs to be stated that the Page 3 of 3. consideration has to happen keeping in view the law declared by this Court in Lokanath Behera’s Case (Supra). 7. It is open to the answering Opposite Parties to solicit any information or documents from the side of the Petitioner, as required for taking a decision on the subject representation. However, in that guise delay shall not be brooked. Now, no costs. Web copy of this order to be acted upon by all concerned. ( A.K. Mohapatra ) Judge Rubi