IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) NO.5522 OF 2026 Kshirasindhu Kata …. Petitioner Mr. Bijaya Kumar Behera-1, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha & others …. Opp. Parties Mr. Manmaya Kumar Dash, Additional Standing Counsel CORAM: JUSTICE K.R. MOHAPATRA JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR MISHRA ORDER Order No. 13.05.2026 03. 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid mode. 2. Grievance of the Petitioner in this writ petition is with regard to inaction of the Special Land Acquisition and RR Officer, Lower Indra Irrigation Project, Khariar in disposing of the application filed by the Petitioner under Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (for brevity 'the Act') in terms of the judgment dated 8th May, 2023 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Sr. Division), Nuapada in L.A.R. No.30 of 2017 in a reference under Section 18 of the Act. 3. Taking note of the grievance of the Petitioner, this Court directed learned State Counsel to take instruction with regard to the current status of the application filed by the Petitioner under Section 28A of the Act. 4. Mr. Dash, learned Additional Standing Counsel produces a copy of the written instruction of the Special L.A. & R.R.O., Lower Indra Irrigation Project, Khariar vide letter No.755 dated 15.04.2026 indicating therein that the application filed by the Petitioner under Section 28A of the Act has already been disposed of and the Government in Water Resources Department has been moved vide p. 2 letter No.656/WE dated 26.03.2026 for sanction of the amount re- determined by the Special L.A. & R.R.O., Lower Indra Irrigation Project, Khariar. The said written instruction is taken on record. 5. Mr. Behera, learned Counsel for the Petitioner submits that he has no instruction as to whether the application filed by the Petitioner has already been disposed of or not. If the application has already been disposed of, then the differential amount should be released in favour of the Petitioner along with statutory dues at an early date. 6. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the Director (R&R)-cum-Special Secretary to Government in Water Resources Department (Opposite Party No.2) to sanction the amount as expeditiously as possible, preferably, by end of July, 2026 and in that event, the Special Land Acquisition and RR Officer, Lower Indra Irrigation Project, Khariar (Opposite Party No.3) shall release the differential amount in favour of the Petitioner as expeditiously as possible, preferably, by end of August, 2026 on verification of his entitlement and on proper acknowledgement. 7. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application. (K.R. Mohapatra) Judge (S.K. Mishra) Judge Banita Designation: SR. STENOGRAPHER