Smt. Sumita Ghosh v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.

11-07-2025 Item No.50 ML Subrata Bhattacharyya IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side AR(C) WPA No.18212 of 2024 Smt. Sumita Ghosh -vsThe State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Sandipan Maity ...for the petitioner 1.

The husband of the petitioner died of snake bite. The petitioner relies on a memo being No.1482(40)-FR/4P-3/04 (at p.14) issued by the Joint Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Government of West Bengal dated August 7, 2008 for claiming ex gratia grant to the next of kin of the deceased.

2.

A representation dated August 16, 2023 (Annexure P4, p.20) to that effect was made by the petitioner to the concerned authority and the same is alleged to be kept pending.

3.

None appears for the State, despite service. Affidavit of service is on record.

4.

As it appears that the prayer of the petitioner is pending consideration before the respondent authority, accordingly, the instant writ petition is disposed of by directing the District Magistrate & Collector, Nadia, the third respondent herein, to take a decision on the petitioner's representation in accordance with the subject memo at the earliest but positively within eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

5.

If the petitioner is found entitled to the relief as

claimed, then necessary steps for disbursal of the claim shall be taken immediately thereafter.

6.

Learned counsel for the petitioner shall forward a copy of the representation dated August 16, 2024 along with all supporting documents to the aforesaid respondent at the time of communicating this order.

7.

All parties are to act on the server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

8.

Certified copy of this order, if applied for, shall be made available to the parties.

[Amrita Sinha, J]