Khajura 1 No Swanirbhar Dal And And ANR v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Item No. 8 In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side 17.03.2022 Ct-24 WPA 10720 of 2021 Khajura 1 No. Swanirbhar Dal (Self Help Group) & Anr. v.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Suvro Prokash Lahiri ... for the petitioners.

Mr. Srijan Nayak Ms. Rituparna Maity ... for the State respondents.

The petitioner no. 1 is a self-help group and the petitioner no. 2 is the Secretary of the petitioner no. 1. The petitioners claim to have been engaged in the Mid-day Meal Cooking Scheme in respect of Upar Khajura Primary School.

The allegation of the petitioners is that some other groups are creating obstruction to the petitioners in the mid-day meal cooking.

It has been submitted that padlock has been put in the kitchen and the other group is not permitting the petitioners to continue with the mid-day meal cooking. The issue came before this Court on several earlier occasions and Court passed order for resolution of the disputes by the District Magistrate, Purulia.

It appears that an order was passed by the District Magistrate, Purulia whereby the Block Development Officer, Jhalda-I Development Block was directed to restore the engagement of the old group who was continuing with the mid-day meal cooking.

Learned advocate representing the State respondents submits, upon instruction, that the complaint which was lodged by the petitioners was duly considered and steps were taken to settle the disputes amicably between all the groups. Several negotiations were held at the local administration of the block. It has been concluded that the old self-help group will continue cooking in the present school. The Block Development Officer communicated the decision taken to the Additional District Magistrate for necessary information.

It appears from the instruction given by the Block Development Officer, Raghunathpur-I Development Block that the decision has already been taken at the administrative level to permit the petitioners being the old self-help group to continue cooking at the Upar Khajura Primary School.

Accordingly, the instant writ petition is disposed of by directing the Block Development Officer, Raghunathpur-I Development Block to ensure that there is no obstruction caused in the functioning of the

petitioners for cooking in the mid-day meal of the said school.

The Block Development Officer shall ensure that there is no breach of peace at the time of functioning of the petitioners in the cooking of the mid-day meal. If required, the Block Development Officer may take assistance of the local police.

With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition stands disposed of.

Instruction given by the Block Development Officer, Raghunathpur-I Development Block be retained with the records.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties after completion of all legal formalities.

Sh (Amrita Sinha, J.)