Asia Pacific Globex Pvt. Ltd v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Item- 15.

WPA 1653 of 2026 29-01-2026 Asia Pacific Globex Pvt. Ltd.

Ct. 19

Versus

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

sg Mr. Ranajit Chatterjee Mr. Arijit Dey ...for the petitioner Sk. Md. Galib Mr. Kapil Guha ...for the State Affidavit of service filed in Court today is taken on record.

The petitioner has challenged the notice dated 12th January, 2026 issued by the Forest Range Officer, Ukhra Range.

Mr. Chatterjee, learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the predecessors-in-interest of the petitioner were the lessee under the erstwhile Zamindar and the land in question was under the possession of the predecessor-in-interest of the petitioner. The petitioner claims to have acquired right, title and interest in the plot in question by virtue of a registered sub-lease executed by the Chatterjees dated 6th June, 2018.

After going through the impugned notice, this Court finds that during routine patrolling over plot no. 406 of Hetedoba Mouza, it was observed that an attempt to encroach the forest land was being made and for which the notice dated 12th January, 2026 was issued to the petitioner seeking clarification from the petitioner.

By the said notice, the petitioner was asked to show

cause as to why legal action should not be taken against him and a time limit was fixed for submission of such reply along with the record of rights of plot no. 406 of Mouza Hetedoba, J.L. no. 45.

Since only a clarification was sought for by the Forest Range Officer from the petitioner, this Court is not inclined to interfere with such notice at this stage. The petitioner will be at liberty to submit the reply as directed by the order dated 12th January, 2026 within the time limit indicated in the said notice along with a copy of the record of rights of plot no. 406 of Mouza Hetedoba as well as other materials in support of the claim of the petitioner in respect of the plot in question.

In case any adverse action is contemplated against the petitioner after receipt of the reply from the petitioner pursuant to the notice dated 12th January, 2026, an opportunity of hearing should be provided to the petitioner before taking any further coercive steps against the petitioner. With the above observations and directions, WPA 1653 of 2026 stands disposed of.

Since the affidavits have not been called for, the allegations contained in the writ petition shall not be deemed to have been admitted by the respondents.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities.

(Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, J.)