Orissa High Court Awards ₹5 Lakh Compensation for 20-Year Delay in Job Appointment

The Orissa High Court directed the State to pay ₹5 lakh compensation to a job-seeker who was denied appointment for over two decades despite a favourable tribunal order.

The Court partly allowed a writ petition challenging the State Administrative Tribunal’s decision to drop contempt proceedings against non-compliance of its 2002 order.

It held that the petitioner’s right to appointment had crystallised and prolonged inaction caused clear prejudice.

Observing that courts cannot leave successful litigants remediless, the Court granted compensation in lieu of appointment and warned of daily penalties for delay in payment.