Aahandi Murmu v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Court No. 19 WPA 16896 of 2025 (265719) 11.11.2025 Aahandi Murmu Vs.

The Union of India & Ors.

(AD 22) (S. Banerjee) Ms. Salma S. Shah Ms. Sani Hossain ...for the petitioner Mr. Chandi Charan De Mr. Anirban Sarkar ...for the State The petitioner claims to be a raiyat belonging to a Scheduled Tribe. The petitioner states that she is in dire need of financial assistance to meet the medical expenses and to sustain her daily livelihood and for such reason she intends to transfer her landed property to a person not belonging to a Scheduled Tribe. The petitioner claims to have submitted a representation before various authorities but no decision has been communicated by such authorities to the petitioner till date.

Mr. De, learned Additional Government Pleader, submits that under Section 14C(1) of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955 if a raiyat intends to transfer by sale his plot of land or any part thereof to any person not belonging to any Scheduled Tribe, he has

to obtain prior permission in writing of the Revenue Officer. He submits that the petitioner has not filed any representation or application before the concerned Revenue Officer praying for permission to transfer. He submits that in the event the petitioner files an application before the Revenue Officer praying for permission to transfer, such officer shall take a decision within the time limit that may be fixed by this court.

In the light of the submissions made by the learned advocates appearing for the respective parties, this writ petition stands disposed of by giving liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh representation/application before the concerned Revenue Officer praying for permission in terms of Section 14C(1) of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act and if such a representation/application is filed, the Revenue Officer shall consider the same and pass orders accordingly within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the representation/application along with a server copy of this order.

(Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, J.)