High Court Clears Way for Bidulata Huika to Resume Duties as CWC Chairperson in Rayagada

Odishabarta

Rayagada, Dec 3: The Women & Child Development (WCD) Department has directed Rayagada Collector to immediately reinstate Bidulata Huika as the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Rayagada, in compliance with orders of the Hon’ble Orissa High Court and direction by Advocate General of Odisha. In an official communication (No. WCD-CW-CASE-0024-2025-30359/WCD dated 01.12.2025), Additional Secretary Krutibas Rout, OAS (SAG), informed the Collector & District Magistrate, Rayagada, that the High Court’s orders dated 23.05.2025 and 26.11.2025 in W.P.(C) No.14756/2025 must be implemented without delay.

The High Court, while hearing the petition filed by Bidulata Huika (Bidulata Huika vs State of Odisha & Ors.), has allowed her to discharge duties as the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Rayagada, until further orders or completion of her tenure, whichever comes earlier. Following this, the WCD Department has instructed the district administration to comply immediately and report back to the department at the earliest. This development marks a significant step in resolving the administrative dispute surrounding the CWC leadership in Rayagada.

It may be noted that on November 11 last year, a nine day baby was sold off for 20K to a couple of neighbouring Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh through an impugned affidavit by advocate. The then Collector Parul Patawari and District Child Protection Officer(I/c) Bichitra Sethi passed on the blame to the CWC for the whole episode and recommended dissolution of the Committee. On the recommendation of the Collector, Women & Child Development Deptt, Govt of Odisha dissolved the CWC, which Huika challenged in the apex court. According to Huika, rescue of the minor children does not come within the ambit of CWC, which is a quasi-judicial body. After the rescue by the police, DCPO and other monitoring authorities, CWC’s role is to rehabilitate he Children in Need of Care & Protection(CNCP). In the mean time Huika has rejoined as CWC Chairperson on last Tuesday and said that as usual truth had always prevailed.