STATE OF ODISHA vs PURUSHOTTAM DALLI

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: SANGRAM DAS
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack
Date: 21-Sep-2026 16:44:20
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK


W.A. No.1282 of 2025
CNR No. ODHC010521532025


th
(From the judgment dated 17 January 2025 passed by learned Single
Judge in W.P.(C).15613 of 2018)



State of Odisha & Ors. …. Appellants

-versus-


Purushottam Dalli Respondent
….


Advocate(s) appeared in this case:-
For Appellants : Mr. S.B.Panda, AGA

For Respondent : Mr. P.K.Panda, Advocate



CORAM:
SHRI JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY
MISS JUSTICE SAVITRI RATHO



JUDGMENT
st
21 September 2026
B.P. Routray, J.
1.
Heard Mr. S.B.Panda, learned AGA for the Appellants and Mr.
P.K.Panda, learned counsel for the Respondent.
W.A. No.1282 of 2025 Page 1 of 4

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: SANGRAM DAS
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack
Date: 21-Sep-2026 16:44:20
th
2.
Present writ appeal is directed against judgment dated 17 January
2025 of the learned Single Judge passed in W.P.(C) No.15613 of 2018.
The learned Single Judge while quashing the impugned order, allowed
the prayer of writ Petitioner to direct the authority to issue necessary
engagement order in his favour as Sikhya Sahayak (Telugu) against the
available vacancy in the district of Gajapati.
3.
The prayer of the Petitioner was to engage him as Sikhya Sahayak
(Telugu) in the district of Gajapati, which was rejected by the authority
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as per order dated 25 June 2018 of the Collector-cum-Chief Executive
Officer, Zilla Parishad, Gajapati. The main ground of rejection for
engagement of the Petitioner was that, he did not have the H.S.C. pass
certificate in Odia medium.
4. It is submitted by Mr. Panda, learned AGA that as per Clause 6.2
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of the resolution dated 26 December 2016 of the Government in School
and Mass Education Department, Odisha, it requires that the candidate
must have passed H.S.C. examination in Odia medium. But the writ
Petitioner having passed H.S.C. examination in Telugu medium is thus
not entitled for his engagement as Sikhya Sahayak (Telugu).
W.A. No.1282 of 2025 Page 2 of 4

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: SANGRAM DAS
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack
Date: 21-Sep-2026 16:44:20
5.
It is relevant here to reproduce of Clause 6.2 of said resolution
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dated 26 December 2016, which is the central point of interpretation by
the learned Single Judge., and it reads as follows:-
Clause 6.2- In order to be eligible for Urdu, Bengali,
“
Telugu Sikshya Sahayaks. Candidates must have passed
Urdu, Bengali, Telugu as the case may be as MIL up to
HSC standard. Since their engagement is likely to be held
in the bilingual schools, such candidates shall produce a
certificate from the Head Master of the concerned
schools to the effect that she/he has passed HSC
examination in Odia medium. Candidates can apply
either in Category-1 or in Category-2 as per their
qualification.”
6.
As per the interpretation of learned Single Judge, since it remains
undisputed that the Petitioner passed H.S.C. examination having Odia as
a subject up to Class-X and that, the school being a bilingual school for
Telugu and Odia, the qualification acquired by the writ Petitioner fulfills
the requirement of passing in Odia medium up to H.S.C. standard as per
Clause 6.2 of the resolution.
7.
We have heard both parties. It is true that Clause 6.2 speaks that
the candidate concerned is required to have passed H.S.C. examination in
Odia medium. But it is to be read in whole. The first sentence appearing
in Clause 6.2 is to the effect that, in order to be eligible for Urdu,
W.A. No.1282 of 2025 Page 3 of 4

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: SANGRAM DAS
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack
Date: 21-Sep-2026 16:44:20
Bengali, Telugu Sikhya Sahayaks, the candidate must have passed Urdu,
Bengali, Telugu, as the case may be, as MIL up to H.S.C. standard. It is
further mentioned in Clause 6.2 that the engagement of such candidates
is likely to be in bilingual schools. Therefore, when it is undisputed that
the writ Petitioner has passed his H.S.C. standard having Odia as a
subject up to Class-X, then the same is not violating the requirement
prescribed as per Clause 6.2 of the Resolution. It is for the reason that,
the Petitioner has to be engaged in a bilingual school obviously and he
has the knowledge in Odia as well as Telugu, both. Therefore, even the
writ Petitioner has pursued his study in Telugu medium school, but
having his subject in Odia up to Class-X, the same fulfils the requirement
prescribed under Clause 6.2. Thus, we agree with the interpretation of the
learned Single Judge to found the writ Petitioner as eligible for his
engagement as Sikhya Sahayak (Telugu).
8.
Accordingly, without finding any merit in the contention of the
Appellants, the writ appeal is dismissed.

(B.P. Routray)
Judge


(Savitri Ratho)
Judge

S.Das, Sr.Steno
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