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Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Department has intensified hearings on appeals concerning building plan violations, demolition proceedings and other planning disputes under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982. The move follows increased enforcement against unauthorised structures after the Supreme Court’s intervention on illegal construction. Records of the appellate authority show that 387 appeals were listed for hearing over the past 18 months, of which 100 have been disposed of, leaving 287 pending. Some cases date back to 2002 and 2004. Appeals involving the Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Cuttack Municipal Corporation and Cuttack Development Authority are among those under consideration. The department has increased the frequency of hearings to address the backlog while maintaining the requirement for case-by-case examination of records, site reports and submissions.
Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Department has stepped up hearings of appeals involving building plan violations and related planning disputes, with 287 cases still pending before the appellate authority after 100 of 387 appeals listed over the past 18 months were disposed of. The exercise is being accelerated as the state strengthens enforcement against unauthorised structures following the Supreme Court’s intervention on illegal construction.
The appeals are being examined under the Odisha Development Authorities (ODA) Act, 1982 and cover matters including violations of sanctioned building plans, demolition proceedings and other disputes relating to development regulations. The department has been conducting more frequent hearings to address the accumulated cases, including several that have remained unresolved for decades.
Records of the appellate authority show that some pending matters date back to 2002 and 2004. Among the cases taken up during the 18-month period, appeals filed in 2013 accounted for 31 hearings, followed by 25 cases from 2015 and 24 from 2023. More recent appeals filed in 2025 and 2026 have also been listed, indicating that the department is addressing both older and newer disputes alongside one another.
The cases involve enforcement actions initiated by several urban planning and civic authorities. These include the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Cuttack Development Authority (CDA), primarily against property owners accused of breaching sanctioned building plans or other development norms.
A senior department official said the hearing process had been intensified to deal with legacy cases as well as recent matters involving building plan violations, demolition proceedings and other planning disputes. The department’s stated approach is to ensure compliance with planning regulations while following due process.
Officials associated with the appellate proceedings said the disposal rate had improved in recent months, although older appeals can require detailed examination of historical records, site reports and submissions from multiple parties. They indicated that while there was pressure to clear the backlog, each matter would continue to be decided on its individual merits.
The records also indicate that delays remain in some cases. Several proceedings have recorded lengthy gaps between one hearing and the next, while some entries do not specify a future hearing date. Questions have consequently arisen over cases that were not listed during the 18-month period under review.
The faster disposal of appeals is significant for enforcement of urban planning regulations because prolonged proceedings can delay action against unauthorised construction. Real estate expert Bimalendu Pradhan said an efficient appeal mechanism was necessary to prevent enforcement proceedings from remaining unresolved for years and to support adherence to planning norms.
The department has said it is working to reduce the pendency and improve transparency in the process, with hearings being scheduled regularly to address the backlog. Odisha’s public-service framework also provides defined timelines and appellate mechanisms for building-related services, including alteration, addition and revision of building plans.
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