Sukla Basak And ANR v. Balurghat Municipality And ORS.

18.09.2023 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 14799 of 2023 Sukla Basak & Anr.

-versus Balurghat Municipality & Ors.

Mr. Manas Kumar Das, Mr. Aritra Kumar Thokdar.

...For the Petitioners.

Mr. Usof Ali Dewan, Mr. Asif Dewan.

...For the Respondent No.5.

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

The petitioners complain of illegal and unauthorized construction at the behest of the respondent no.5.

Allegation is that the complaint lodged against such unauthorized construction is yet to be disposed of.

It has been submitted that a notice of hearing was issued by the Balurghat Municipality but thereafter, the Municipality did not proceed to conclude the said proceeding. The Municipality, on the other hand, is pressurizing the petitioners to compromise the matter with the private respondent.

Learned advocate appearing for the private respondent denies the allegation of the petitioners. As it appears that the representation of the petitioners objecting to the illegal and unauthorized construction is pending consideration at the end of the respondent authorities, no useful purpose will be served by keeping the writ petition pending.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of by directing the respondent no.3 being the Board of Councilors to consider and dispose of the representation made by the petitioners strictly in accordance with law, after giving an opportunity of hearing to all the necessary parties including the petitioners within a period of three months from the date of communication of a copy of this order. The said respondent shall pass a reasoned order and communicate the same to all the necessary parties including the petitioners immediately thereafter. A spot inspection shall be conducted to ascertain the nature and extent of unauthorized construction. In the event the aforesaid respondent is of the considered opinion that the construction has been made either in violation of the plan sanctioned or devoid the sanction plan, then necessary steps shall be taken to deal with such unauthorized construction, in accordance with law.

The aforesaid respondent shall restrict the consideration of the representation with regard to unauthorized construction only and not enter into or decide any private dispute of the parties regarding right, title and interest in respect of the aforesaid land.

It is made clear that this Court has not entered into the merits of the claim made by the petitioners and all points are left open to be decided by the aforesaid respondent at the time of consideration of the representation of the petitioners.

The petitioners are directed to forward a copy of the representation dated 30th January, 2023 to the aforesaid respondent at the time of communicating the order of the Court.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)