Lipika Mondal v. Union Of India And ORS.

22.07.2025 (pp) In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 5832 of 2025 Lipika Mondal -versus- Union of India & Ors.

Mr. Sudipta Panda, Ms. Salma Sultana Shah, Mr. Sani Hossain ...For the Petitioner.

Mr. Ashok Chakraborty, ASG, Ms. Anamika Pandey, Ms. Jayita Dhar ...For the Union of India.

1.

Affidavit of service filed in Court today is taken on record.

2.

The petitioner's husband died an unnatural death while he was sailing. The petitioner, being the widow, submitted a prayer before the Director General of Shipping with request to investigate the death and for payment of compensation.

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that after service of a copy of the writ petition, the petitioner along with two minor children were summoned by the authority to Mumbai to attend a hearing on 5th July, 2025, but no order for compensation has been passed till date.

4.

As it appears that the authority is already in seisin of the matter and the prayer of the petitioner seeking compensation is under consideration before the Director General of Shipping, accordingly, the instant writ petition is disposed of by directing the respondent no.

2, being the Director General of Shipping, to take a decision on the prayer of

the petitioner strictly in accordance with the relevant guidelines/circulars/notifications governing the field at the earliest, but positively within a period of four weeks from the date of communication of this order. If the petitioner is found eligible to receive compensation, then the same shall be disbursed in favour of the petitioner immediately thereafter.

5.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

6.

Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order be supplied to the parties, if applied for, as early as possible.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)