SC Refuses To Hear Plea Against HC Ruling On Odisha’s Cancer Hosp Director

Cuttack: The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a special leave petition (SLP), challenging the Orissa High Court’s ruling against continuation of Dr Lalitendu Sarangi as director in-charge of Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC), Cuttack, by way of periodic extensions after his retirement on March 17, 2022.

The division bench of Justices J K Maheswari and K V Viswanathan dismissed the petition filed by the institute on October 6.

On August 31, the division bench of Chief Justice Subhasis Talapatra and Justice Savitri Ratho, while disposing of a PIL filed by city-based social activist Chittaranjan Mohanty, directed the state government and the institute to choose a new director in-charge till the time a director is appointed.

“We are constrained to observe that the said short-circuited step as taken for engaging the director I/C completely violates Clause 11 (8) of the Bye-laws…. convene a meeting of the executive committee within a period of five days and recommend a panel of three professors after considering that they have eligibility criteria, requisites from among the senior most professors, to the governing body for the posting of the director in-charge till the regular director is appointed by the selection committee,” it said.

On September 29, the HC set three-month time frame for compliance of the order while disposing of a contempt petition.

Also Read: HC Asks Odisha Govt, AHPGIC To Choose New Director In-Charge; Know Why