‘Gen Z’ Movement in Bhubaneswar

To
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha
Bhubaneswar.

Subject : ‘Gen Z’ Movement in Bhubaneswar – Urgent Demand for Uniform Implementation of Hon’ble High Court Orders on Regularisation of Leasehold Land and Immediate Withdrawal of proposal to file Selective SLPs.

Sir,

I, Lokanath Mishra, submit this representation on behalf of thousands of citizens of Bhubaneswar regarding the deliberate, prolonged and blatantly discriminatory non-implementation of Hon’ble High Court of Odisha orders on regularisation of leasehold land.

Out of sheer frustration, a citizens’ movement called ‘Gen Z’ has been launched in Bhubaneswar. Ironically, the backbone of this movement comprises people aged 40 to 80 years who have been forced onto the streets due to the State’s apathy. They own land, they pay Government rent, yet they are denied the right to build their own homes and are compelled to live in rented houses.

FACTS AND GRIEVANCE:

1. ILLEGAL DELAY IN FINALISATION OF DRAFT PARCHAS:
   The Settlement Authority has issued Parcha (Draft Patta) in numerous cases. Where no objection has been received within 3 months, including from the Government, law mandates finalisation and issuance of Patta without deviation. This is settled law as per Hon’ble High Court in Shakuntala Dash vs State of Odisha, WP(C) No. 11912/2017 and Padmanava Prusty vs State of Odisha, WP(C) No. 12776/2014..
   The State accepted these judgments and did not challenge them before the Supreme Court. The principle is therefore binding and has the force of law. The continued refusal to finalise such Parchas is contemptuous, illegal, and causing grave hardship to genuine allottees.
2. ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY CHALLENGE TO HC ORDERS – VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 14:
   In several cases the Government has implemented High Court directions on regularisation. Shockingly, in a few handpicked cases the Government has filed SLPs before the Supreme Court. Even after dismissal of SLPs with remand, and after the High Court reiterated its orders, the Revenue Department is again proposing to file SLPs selectively.
   This pick-and-choose policy is arbitrary, mala fide and a direct violation of Article 14. The State cannot implement the law for some and litigate against others similarly situated. Such conduct amounts to abuse of power.
   ‘Gen Z’ demands immediate withdrawal of all pending proposals to file SLPs in such matters in public interest.
3. REFUSAL TO CORRECT KISSAM TO ‘GHARABARI’ DESPITE HC ORDERS:
   In cases where Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar has issued Patta pursuant to High Court orders recording status as ‘Sthitiban’, the Kissam is illegally being retained as ‘Baje Fasal’/Agriculture. This is despite the fact that in identical cases Kissam has been changed to ‘Gharabari’.
   Due to this maladministration, citizens are denied building plan approval by BMC and are forced to pay exorbitant rent. The ADM, Bhubaneswar must be directed to rectify this illegality forthwith and uniformly change Kissam to ‘Gharabari’ in all ‘Sthitiban’ cases.

HARDSHIP:
The non-uniform and defiant attitude of the Revenue authorities has pushed senior citizens and retired persons into severe financial and mental distress. They are owners of land but are treated as encroachers in their own property due to bureaucratic highhandedness.

PRAYER:
I, therefore, demand that Your Honour immediately direct:

1. The Department of Revenue to implement all High Court judgments on leasehold land regularisation uniformly, without discrimination and without further delay;
2. The competent authority to immediately finalise all Parchas issued by Settlement Authorities where no objection was received within 3 months;
3. The ADM, Bhubaneswar to change Kissam to ‘Gharabari’ in all ‘Sthitiban’ cases and to stop this illegal differentiation;
4. The ADM, Bhubaneswar to dispose all pending OLR Appeal cases in a time-bound manner of 60 days, and to allow change of Kissam where similar cases have already been allowed;
5. The Govt. of Odisha, Revenue Department to immediately withdraw all proposals for filing SLPs in selective cases;
6. That in mutation and RoR correction cases, no fresh physical verification be insisted upon as the Settlement Amin has already conducted it.

This matter cannot be delayed any further. If the genuine and legally tenable demands of the citizens are not fulfilled immediately, the ‘Gen Z’ movement will be constrained to launch a peaceful mass agitation across Bhubaneswar and hold the Government accountable, including demanding accountability at the highest level.

I trust that Your Honour will intervene personally to uphold the rule of law and the dignity of senior citizens.

Yours faithfully,

LOKANATH MISHRA
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Mobile: 9437314941
Email: jailoknathjee@gmail.com
Date: 19.08.2026

Copy for information and necessary action to:

1. The Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar
2. The Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar
3. The ADM, Bhubaneswar