Orissa High Court invalidates no-confidence motion against Chameli Ojha

The Orissa High Court has declared the no-confidence proceedings against Chameli Ojha, the Sarpanch of Tikhiri Gram Panchayat in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, to be illegal. Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra delivered the verdict, citing procedural lapses regarding the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, 1964.

The court found that mandatory legal requirements under Section 24 were not met. Specifically, Ojha was not provided with the necessary copies of the resolution and requisition alongside the notice, which is required to allow an elected official sufficient time to prepare a defense. Additionally, the petition noted that the notice was handed to Ojha’s father via thumb impression rather than through proper service to the Sarpanch.

While 21 of the 22 ward members in the Tikhiri Gram Panchayat had supported the motion, the court's ruling invalidates the proceedings and the scheduled vote. The decision ensures that the results of the previously scheduled no-confidence vote cannot be recognized due to these statutory non-compliance issues.