Authority: High Court of Odisha at Cuttack
Order Date: 06-10-2026
Case Overview
- Petitioners: Chandramani Biswal & Ors., shopkeepers operating in Unit‑I Market, Bhubaneswar.
- Opposite Parties: The State of Odisha & Ors.
- Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. Shivsankar Mohanty, Advocate.
- Counsel for State: Miss Gayatri Patra, Assistant Solicitor‑General.
- Incident: A fire broke out in the Unit‑I Hata/market on 20.01.2026, after which the petitioners were evicted from their shop rooms without following due process of law.
- Petitioners possess valid Trade Licenses and have paid requisite license fees but remain unrehabilitated, forcing them to conduct business near drainage systems, adversely affecting commercial viability.
- Relief Sought: Rehabilitation within the Mahavir Vending Zone, Unit‑I, Bhubaneswar, and permission to ventilate grievances before the Deputy Commissioner, Vending Zone, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.
- Opposition Argument: The State counsel contended that petitioners should have first approached the concerned authority before filing the writ.
Final Outcome
- The Court, without expressing opinion on the merits, directs the petitioners to approach the Deputy Commissioner, Vending Zone, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation within ten (10) working days, submitting a representation for rehabilitation.
- The Deputy Commissioner is mandated to examine the grievance and take appropriate steps to rehabilitate the petitioners within four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of the representation.
- The writ petition is disposed of.
- Bench: Hon'ble Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Chittaranjan Dash.
Topics: Legal Relief, Urban Rehabilitation, Municipal Governance