Cuttack: The Orissa high court has issued a stay order on the publication of results of Kendrapada district in the state-level essay writing competition for Suravi-2024, a state-level children’s programme, following allegations of guideline violations in the student selection process.
Justice Biraja Prasanna Satapathy, while hearing a petition on Thursday, directed that results for the senior category essay competition from Kendrapada district be withheld until the next hearing on Nov 22.
The case emerged when Ananya Mahalik, a Class IX student of M N High School, Pattamundai, filed a petition challenging the district education officer’s decision to sponsor another student from Derabish High School for the state-level competition, despite Mahalik winning the district-level contest.
According to the guidelines of Suravi-2024, a school and mass education department initiative promoting co-curricular activities, only district-level winners qualify for the event. Mahalik’s counsel, advocate Ashwariya Dash, argued that his client was the sole eligible candidate after securing first place in both block and district levels, with certificates of appreciation dated Nov 8.
The court has issued notices to the Kendrapada district collector and the project coordinator of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, seeking their response. State counsel A Mohanty has been directed to obtain govt’s instructions before the next hearing.
Suravi-2024 commenced in Bhubaneswar on Nov 12, with participants from across Odisha.