Bhubaneswar, Aug. 6 -- Ruling that the prescribed authority bears the burden of proving strict compliance with mandatory procedural requirements, particularly in proceedings seeking the removal of an elected representative, the Orissa High Court has quashed the no-confidence proceedings initiated against the Sarpanch of Kandarai Gram Panchayat in Cuttack district.
Allowing a writ appeal, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Chittaranjan Dash set aside the July 14, 2026 judgment of a Single Bench, which had dismissed the Sarpanch's challenge to a notice issued by the Sub-Collector, Athagarh, under Section 24(2)(c) of the Odisha Grama Panchayats Act, 1964.
The appellant had contended that while the notice date...