Cuttack: Orissa high court has extended its interim stay on the Rs 3,000 fine imposed by Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on a retired Odisha Small Industries Corporation deputy general manager, who alleged victimisation for acting as ‘a whistle-blower’. The matter will now be taken up for orders on Nov 17.Justice R K Pattanaik, in an Oct 29 order, directed that the interim protection granted earlier would continue until the next date of hearing.The court deferred the hearing after the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the state govt had not filed its counter-affidavit and sought the presence of OHRC in the proceedings.The petitioner, Debesh Das, has challenged the OHRC’s Jan 31, 2026, order dismissing his complaint on grounds of maintainability and imposing a fine of Rs 3,000 on him. Das, through senior advocate Manoj Kumar Mishra, contended that he had been victimised for acting as a whistle-blower and that false criminal cases were lodged against him. He claimed that one of the cases, relating to a vigilance matter, ended in his exoneration following an inquiry.Arguing that the criminal proceedings had caused him humiliation and amounted to violation of his human rights, the petitioner questioned the legality of the OHRC’s decision to dismiss his complaint.OHRC failed to properly consider the documents and submissions placed before him, including the allegations against the vigilance officials and the circumstances surrounding the registration of the two FIRs, the petitioner counsel argued.Taking note of the submissions, Justice Pattanaik, in an Oct 5 order, had sought responses from the OHRC, OSIC managing director, state govt and director-general of police. The court had accordingly issued notices to the authorities.As an interim measure, stayed the OHRC order imposing Rs 3,000 fine on Das.On Oct 29, the court deferred the matter to Nov 17 for the appearance of OHRC and further orders, while continuing the interim protection.Das had approached OHRC in Sept 2020, alleging malicious prosecution and abuse of official power by vigilance officials. After several hearings in five years, OHRC dismissed his complaint on Jan 31.