Biplab Kumar Chowdhury v. State Of West Bengal & ORS

8th January, (AK) W.P.A 2278 of 2020 Biplab Kumar Chowdhury Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Bhaskar Prosad Banerjee Mr. Aniket Mitra Mr. Parashar Baidya ...For the Petitioners.

Ms. Chandrani Bhattacharya ...For the Kamarhati Municipality.

The petitioner alleges that the petitioner made four different applications on consecutive dates asking for certain information from the respondent authorities. Upon such applications being delayed inordinately, the petitioner approached the Appellate Forum with four different appeals, also filed on consecutive dates. However, such appeals are pending for an inordinate period.

Learned counsel for the petitioner prays for early disposal of such appeals in view of pendency of those since 2019.

Learned counsel appearing for the respondents places reliance on the annexure at page-7 of the affidavitin-opposition to indicate that similar information had previously been sought by the petitioner and was supplied by the authorities.

Learned counsel for the respondents also relies on pages 8 and 9 of the affidavit-in-opposition to indicate that the petitioner was absent for hearing of such applications despite repeated notices.

It is further argued on behalf of the respondent authorities that the petitioner is a habitual litigant and several applications are pending in this court, regarding matters of similar nature, at the behest of the petitioner. Be that as it may, it appears from the records that the applications and the appeals preferred by the petitioner were filed on different aspects of the similar matter on consecutive dates, instead of clubbing them together, which raises an apprehension of intended harassment of the respondent authorities by the petitioner, although it would be premature to enter into such question at this juncture. However, no order for early hearing of the petitioner appeals need be passed on the facts of the case.

Accordingly, WPA 2278 of 2020 is disposed of with the expectation that the respondent authorities shall dispose of the petitioner's appeals as expeditiously as their business permits.

There will be no order as to costs.

Urgent photostat copies of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities.

(Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, J.)