The Odisha government has cautioned officials and the public against a fake and fabricated promotion order allegedly issued in the name of the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water (PR & DW) Department, which has been widely circulated on social media.
In a letter dated July 14, 2026, Special Secretary Surya Narayan Dash informed all Collectors and District Magistrates about the circulation of the forged document and directed them to take immediate steps to prevent its further spread.
The department clarified that the fake order, bearing No. PR‑PDO‑ESTT‑0223‑2023‑17409 and purportedly issued on July 3, 2026, was not issued by the government. It stated that the promotion order mentioned in the circulated document had neither been approved nor issued by the department.
District administrations have been instructed to alert all subordinate offices and field‑level officials about the fake nature of the document and ensure that it is completely disregarded. Collectors have also been directed to issue clarifications to public representatives and field officials wherever confusion arises.
The department urged officials to remain vigilant and monitor the circulation of such fake communications. A separate public clarification will be released through the Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Department.
Meanwhile, the matter has been referred to the Home Department for registration of an FIR and initiation of an investigation by the Cyber Crime Cell to identify those responsible for creating and circulating the forged document.
