Pradip Rajak And Others v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

12.02.2021.

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IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

CONSTITUTIONAL WRIT JURISDICTION APPELLATE SIDE W.P.A. No. 1731 of 2021 (Via Video Conference) Pradip Rajak & Ors.

-vs.- The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Sujit Kumar Rath ...for the petitioners Mr. Himadri Sikhar Chakraborty, Mr. S.B. Chakraborty ...for the State-respondents The petitioners claim that they belong to the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category and were initially considered for the Geetanjali Housing Scheme intended to grant benefit to such persons. However, the names of the petitioners did not find place in the final list. It is submitted that the said Scheme has now been renamed. However, the petitioners gave representation before the Secretary, Housing Department, Government of West Bengal, for reconsideration of their names for being included in the Scheme.

In view of the averment that the petitioners are illiterate persons and fall below the poverty line, the authorities ought to decide such contentions sympathetically and to reconsider whether any benefit

under the relevant Scheme can be granted to them in accordance with law.

Accordingly, W.P.A. No. 1731 of 2021 is disposed of by directing the respondent no. 1 to consider the representation of the petitioners, being Annexure P-5, (at page 21 of the writ petition) and to decide the same in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three weeks from date.

The respondent no. 1 shall communicate the decision to the petitioners at the earliest thereafter. There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order, if applied for, be made available to the parties upon compliance of all necessary formalities.

(Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, J.)