TNI Bureau: The Orissa High Court has directed Urban Development Secretary Usha Padhee to appear in court in connection with a contempt of court case. The court has also summoned Director of Municipal Administration Gagan Bihari Swain, Director of Town Planning and Special Secretary Sushant Mishra, Cuttack Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde, and officials of the Athagarh Special Planning Authority.

The court has instructed the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Development Authority to ensure their presence during the next hearing scheduled for January 30 at 10:30 am. However, the court noted that their personal appearance may be waived if the earlier orders are implemented and an unconditional apology is submitted before the hearing.

The contempt case relates to the failure to regularise the services of a petitioner who has been working in the Urban Development Department for over 10 years, despite clear directions from the High Court. A single bench had issued the order in 2014, which was upheld by a division bench in July 2025. As the directions were not complied with within the stipulated eight weeks, the petitioner filed a contempt petition, prompting the court to issue a stern warning.