Orissa HC Quashes Premature Retirement of Judicial Officer S.K. Sahoo

Bhubaneswar, July 12(OT Webdesk): In a landmark decision, the Orissa High Court has set aside the compulsory retirement of Sanjaya Kumar Sahoo, a senior judicial officer, citing procedural flaws and violation of natural justice.

Sahoo, who joined the judicial service in 1997 and served as the presiding officer of the Family Court in Nabarangpur, was prematurely retired in March 2022 at age 55, five years before the standard superannuation age.

The state had justified the decision, citing a 2007 disciplinary case, a complaint involving caste-based remarks, and a boycott by the local bar association.

However, the division bench, comprising Justices Dixit, Krishna Shripad and Mruganka Sekhar Sahoo, found these reasons outdated and insufficient.

Highlighting Sahoo’s continued professional advancement — including a promotion to selection-grade District Judge in 2021 — the court emphasised that no fresh evidence warranted such punitive action.

“A judicial officer who passes scrutiny at 50 and earns promotions cannot be deemed unfit at 55 without new and credible material,” the bench noted.

Labelling the move as “stigmatising” and procedurally unsound, the court directed a fresh review of the case, ensuring Sahoo is given a fair opportunity to present his side.