Odisha Higher Education Dept Moves to Fast-Track Pending GIA-1994 Supreme Court Orders
Bhubaneswar: In a significant push to resolve long-standing service and financial benefit claims, the Odisha Higher Education Department has issued an urgent directive seeking records of pending Supreme Court orders related to the Grant-in-Aid (GIA) 1994 scheme.
In an official communiqué released on November 12, Director of Higher Education Kaliprasanna Mohapatra instructed principals of all 488-category and 662-category Non-Government Aided Colleges across the state to identify employees who have secured favourable rulings from the apex court but whose verdicts have not yet been formally communicated to or acted upon by the department.
According to the official letter, the Supreme Court had previously disposed of multiple Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) by relying on the landmark judgment delivered by the Orissa High Court in FAO No. 509/2014 and its connected batch cases.
The department is now compiling comprehensive records of all staff members—whether appellants or respondents in those matters—who obtained Supreme Court orders citing the FAO ruling yet remain awaiting departmental implementation.
Terming the matter “Most Urgent,” the Director has mandated college authorities to submit the required details within 15 days, setting a strict deadline of November 30, 2026, to complete the entire verification process.
Additionally, principals must submit a formal undertaking certifying that the verification covers every eligible teaching and non-teaching staff member at their respective institutions, including both active employees and those who have already retired.
This proactive intervention is expected to streamline administrative bottlenecks and expedite the release of pending dues and service benefits for hundreds of aided college employees across Odisha.
