Orissa High Court
WP(C)/25090/2026 of SOUDAMINI PATNAIK Vs STATE OF ODISHA on 1 September 2026
HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK W.P.(C) No.25090 of 2026 CNR No.ODHC010596902026 Soudamini Patnaik …. Petitioner Mr. T. Dash, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha and Others …. Opp. Parties Mr. S.B. Mohanty, AGA CORAM: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH Order No. ORDER
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
W.P.(C) No.25090 of 2026
CNR No.ODHC010596902026
Soudamini Patnaik
….
Petitioner
Mr. T. Dash, Advocate
-versus-
State of Odisha and Others
….
Opp. Parties
Mr. S.B. Mohanty, AGA
CORAM:
THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE CHITTARANJAN DASH
Order No.
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ORDER
01.09.2026
01.
1. Heard learned counsel for the Parties.
2. The Petitioner herein is the widow of the deceased Laxminarayan Patnaik, who was an employee under Opp. Party No.3, and died in harness. Subsequently, a dispute arose with respect to the status of the Petitioner, for which the matter was taken before the competent Court of law in Civil Suit No.84 of 2008. The Civil Judge, Sr. Division, Aska vide judgment and order dated 31.07.2017, decreed the suit, declaring the Petitioner (Plaintiff No.1) to be the legally married wife of Late Laxminarayan Patnaik and Plaintiff No.2 as the daughter of the Plaintiff No.1 through late Laxminarayan Patnaik. The learned Court also declared the Plaintiffs, the Petitioner and her daughter to be entitled to get the retirement benefits in respect to the late Laxminarayan Patnaik in accordance with law as legal heirs.
3. The distressed widow, after a long lapse of time, moved before the authority for claiming the retiral benefits accrued to her late husband Laxminarayan Patnaik, but the authority did not come to the rescue of the Petitioner.
4. Be that as it may, the innocuous prayer before this Court by the Petitioner is to the effect that she has made a representation before the authority on 21.01.2026, which was duly received by the Opp. Party No.3, seeking settlement of the retiral dues of her husband, and the same is pending undisposed of.
5. Keeping in view the aforesaid submissions of the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the facts and circumstances, while disposing of the writ application at the stage of admission, this Court directs Opp. Party No.3 to consider and dispose of the application and representation of the Petitioner and disburse the retiral benefits accrued in favour of the deceased husband within a period of two (2) months, without referring the Petitioner to any further forum, as the time lag between the death of the deceased and the claim made, as well as the grievance raised before the authority, is too long, and the family must have undergone a stressful time in the absence of financial support. The documents, if any, required by the authority may be furnished by the Petitioner in the event a proper notice is issued to her in connection therewith.
(Chittaranjan Dash) Judge Sarbani Digitally Signed Signed by: SARBANI DASH Designation: Junior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK Date: 02-Sep-2026 14:55:47 Signature Not Verified