Sourav Mandal v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

April 24, 2023 Sl. No.26 Court No.19 s.biswas WPA 9044 of 2023 Sourav Mandal vs.

The State of West Bengal and others Mr. Srikanta Dutta, Advocates ... for the petitioner Mr. Jahar Lal Dey, Mr. Parikshit Goswami, Advocates ... for the State The prayer of the writ petitioner cannot be allowed. Admittedly, after 12 years, the petitioner has approached this Court for renewal of a contract by the Narayanpur Gram Panchayat. The petitioner was engaged by the Gram Panchayat on contractual basis, as a skilled technical assistant under a MGNREG Scheme, for a period of eight months. The contract was not renewed thereafter.

The petitioner relies on a communication from Block Development Officer, Nabagram Development Block, to the Pradhan, seeking clarification on the issue.

The petitioner had submitted a representation/complaint before the Block Development Officer. Admittedly, no such question was raised before 2021. The petitioner slept over his right for almost 9 years.

Mr. De, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the State, submits on instruction, that no post of skilled technical assistant was lying vacant under the Narayanpur Gram Panchayat.

The Block Development Officer is directed to look into the matter and see if the petitioner can be engaged as a skilled technical assistant under any MGNREG Scheme, subject to such scheme being still in operation and petitioner fulfilling other eligibility criteria. The question of renewal of the earlier contract does not arise.

Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. However, there will be no order as to costs.

All the parties are directed to act on the basis of server copy of this order.

(Shampa Sarkar, J.)