IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.20168 of 2025 Department of Water Resources .... Petitioner(s) Mr. Sonak Misra, ASC -Versus- Karunakar Routray …. Opposite Party (s) Mr. Sidhant Dwibedi, Advocate CORAM: THE HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE SANJEEB K PANIGRAHI ORDER 16.03.2026 Order No. 03. I.A. No.3192 of 2026 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement. 2. This I.A. has been filed by the Petitioner/State for modification/ clarification of the order dated 31.07.2025 passed by this Court in W.P.(C) No.20168 of 2025. 3. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that pursuant to the liberty granted by this Court, the Petitioner filed its Statement of Defence before the learned Arbitrator within the stipulated period of 7 days in compliance of the order passed by this Court. However, the learned Arbitrator has not accepted the Statement of Defence filed by the Petitioner on the ground that the punitive cost for delay in filing the SOD has not been paid. The Petitioner/ State filed a petition before the Digitally Signed Signed by: GITANJALI NAYAK Reason: Authentication Location: OHC Date: 18-Mar-2026 17:07:41 Signature Not Verified 2 Learned Arbitrator to accept the SOD, but the same has not been considered by the Arbitrator. He further contends that the Petitioner/ State is ready and willing to pay the aforesaid cost. 5. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the Petitioner, this Court directs the Petitioner/Department of Water Resources to pay the cost within a period of 7 days hence. If the said cost is paid within the period stipulated above, the learned Arbitrator shall go ahead with the matter and accept the Statement of Defence of the Petitioner/ State without any further delay and without putting any other condition. 6. It is made clear that no further time shall be granted for payment of the said cost. 7. Accordingly, this I.A. is disposed of. (Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi) Judge Gitanjali