p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.26641 of 2026 CNR No.ODHC010612202026 Debaraj Moharana …. Petitioner(s) Mr. Arjuna Charana Behera, Adv. -versus- State of Odisha & Ors. …. Opposite Party(s) Mr. Tej Kumar, ASC CORAM: HON’BLE DR.JUSTICE SANJEEB K PANIGRAHI Order No. 01. ORDER 29.08.2026 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement. 2. By filing the present Writ Petition, the Petitioner, Debaraj Moharana sought for a direction from this Court to the Tahasildar, Keonjhar (Opposite Party No.5) to consider his application filed on 08.04.2026 under Annexure-2 and initiate a proceeding for settlement of the encroached Govt. land in his favour within a stipulated time period. 3. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner is a landless, poor and Scheduled Tribe person has been encroaching the Govt. land under Khata No.455, Digitally Signed Signed by: SIPUN BEHERA Reason: Authentication Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK Date: 29-Aug-2026 14:55:57 Signature Not Verified p. 2 Plot No.1764, Taila-I, area Ac.42 dec., Plot No.1838, Taila-I, area 80 dec., Plot No.1839 Kissam- Gharabari, area Ac.1.40 dec. and Plot No.1840, Kissam-Taila-I, area Ac.1.80 dec., in total measuring Ac.1.80 dec. in Mouza-Ranki under Keonjhar Tahasil. He further contends that the Petitioner along with his brothers have been possessing the said lands for more than 70 years. The Petitioner has been trying to draw the attention of the Tahasildar, Keonjhar Sadar for settlement of the said Govt. land in his favour, but the Tahasildar without initiating any proceeding for settlement of the Govt. land is trying to evict the Petitioner from the land. 5. Learned counsel further contends that ventilating the said grievance, the Petitioner submitted his representation on 08.04.2026 with a prayer for settlement of the said Govt. land in his favour, but the Tahasildar, Keonjhar has not taken any decision on the said representation. 6. In the circumstances, learned counsel for the Petitioner prays for a direction to the Tahasildar, Keonjhar to consider his representation filed on 08.04.2026 under Annexure-2 and initiate a proceeding for settlement of the said encroached Govt. land. 7. Having regard to the nature of grievance ventilated in the Writ Petition, without expressing any opinion on the Digitally Signed Signed by: SIPUN BEHERA Reason: Authentication Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK Date: 29-Aug-2026 14:55:57 Signature Not Verified p. 3 merits of the case, the Tahasildar, Keonjhar is directed to dispose of the representation of the Petitioner filed on 08.04.2026 in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of one month from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. The decision so taken shall be communicated to the Petitioner and all concerned parties forthwith. 8. With the aforesaid direction, the Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of. 9. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of. 10. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the claim of the Petitioner. 11. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per Rules. (Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi) Judge Sipun ORISSA, CUTTACK