The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld its earlier ruling that had barred Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) general secretary Asirbad Behera from holding office till the next hearing scheduled on July 13.
The court on March 9 had directed Behera to stay away from the post of general secretary while hearing the controversial land encroachment case. The court had also asked the OOA joint secretary to take charge as general secretary for this period.
Behera has held the office of general secretary for the last 28 years since 1988.
The judicial committee, led by the Cuttack District Judge, had submitted a detailed report to the Supreme Court in September last on the encroachment of Government land by the OOA.
In May 2015, the apex court had directed the Orissa High Court to form a three-member panel of judges headed by the District Judge with two more additional judges nominated by the then acting Chief Justice of High Court to probe the alleged land encroachment on which the Barabati Palace and 23 shops have been erected.