Odisha Government Rejects Mass Leave of Revenue Officials Amid Strike

Bhubaneswar, August 14, 2025 – The Odisha government has rejected mass leave applications submitted by over 10,000 district revenue ministerial employees who had launched an indefinite strike on August 11. The strike, organized by the Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha, was aimed at pressing long-standing demands, including promotions under the District Revenue Ministerial Cadre Rules, a uniform pay structure, and the creation of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) positions.

In a directive issued by Additional Chief Secretary D.K. Singh, all district collectors have been instructed to deny leave requests, treat absences as unauthorised, and issue show-cause notices to employees who fail to report for duty. The government has also made it clear that unauthorised leave will be recorded as a break in service, and the “No Work, No Pay” policy will be strictly enforced.

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari appealed to the agitating staff to resume work immediately, warning that continued absence could force the government to consider reducing reliance on manual staff through software modifications and other administrative measures.

The strike has disrupted critical public services across the state, affecting land revenue collection, property registration, and mutation processes, causing inconvenience to citizens and prompting the government’s stern response.

Employees’ key demands include:

• Publication of District Revenue Ministerial Cadre Rules for promotions.
• Inclusion of all eligible district offices and staff in the cadre.
• Implementation of a uniform pay structure with salary enhancement.
• Creation of new ASO positions to improve administrative efficiency.

The government’s firm stance signals potential disciplinary action against striking employees. The outcome of this confrontation will be closely watched, as it may set a precedent for future employee negotiations and the balance between manual workforce and automation in Odisha’s revenue administration.