Orissa High Court Reinstates Hindi Teacher After Wrongful Termination
Bhubaneswar, September 21, 2025 — In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court has ordered the reinstatement of Hindi teacher Binodini Nayak, who was unjustly removed from her post following the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate her predecessor.
Nayak, appointed in 2005 at Udayanarayan Vidyapith in Balasore, had served with distinction for nearly two decades. Her appointment was formally approved in 2012 with retrospective effect from 2008.
However, in April 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the dismissal of Ramesh Chandra Parida—terminated in 2004 for prolonged unauthorised absence—and reinstated him, resulting in Nayak’s removal.
After her plea for reassignment was rejected by the Secondary Education Department in September 2024, citing a pending review petition, Nayak approached the Orissa High Court.
Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad noted that the review petition had already been dismissed in January 2025 and criticised the department’s “colonial mindset.”
The court quashed the rejection order and directed Nayak’s reinstatement under the Block Grant scheme, restoring her job security and service benefits. The ruling is seen as a victory for fairness and a strong rebuke of bureaucratic inertia.
