Akhil Mondal And ORS v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

07.08.2023 WPA 19026 of 2023 Akhil Mondal & ors.

-vsState of West Bengal & ors.

Mr. Moyukh Mukherjee Mr. Pritam Roy Ms. Sagnika Banerjee ....for the petitioners Mr. Amitesh Banerjee Ms. Ipsita Banerjee ...for the State This is an application under Article 226 of the ssi Ct 14 Constitution of India praying for a direction upon the respondent authorities, especially the respondent nos. 3 to 6, to provide police protection till the Board of members are formed for the two Gram Panchayats being the Kalinarayanpur Paharpur Gram Panchayat and Bahirgachi Gram Panchayat falling respectively under the Ranaghat Block-1 and the Ranaghat Block-II.

Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioners is taken on record.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits as follows. The petitioner nos. 1 to 12 are the winning candidates in the Panchayat Election for the Kalinarayanpur Paharpur Gram Panchayat under the Ranaghat Block-1 and the petitioner nos. 13 to 29 are the winning candidates in this election for the Bahirgachi Gram

Panchayat under the Ranaghat Block-II. The Boards in respect of the Gram Panchayat Election are to be formed on 08.08.2023 at the Kalinarayanpur Paharpur Gram Panchayat Office and the Bahirgachi Gram Panchayat Office at 11:30 AM. The petitioners apprehend the local miscreants belonging to the ruling dispensation would prevent them from going there to form Board. They have sought police protection before the concerned authority, which has not been granted yet.

Learned senior standing counsel representing the State submits as follows. The respondents strongly deny the allegations made in the writ petition. However, if the petitioners are apprehending danger to their lives and seeking police protection, they can report to the corresponding police stations at a particular time so that they may be escorted by the police to the respective Gram Panchayat offices.

I have heard the submissions of the learned counsels for the parties and have perused the writ petition. It appears that the petitioners are the winning candidates for the two Gram Panchayats. The Board is to be formed tomorrow at 11:30 AM. The petitioners apprehend that the local miscreants might try their best to prevent them from forming Board.

In view of the above, the petitioner nos. 1 to 12 shall report the Officer-in-Charge of Taherpur Police Station at 10:00 AM so that the concerned Officer can make

arrangements for adequate police protection for them to go to the Kalinarayanpur Paharpur Gram Panchayat Office for formation of Board. Similarly, the petitioner nos. 13 to 29 shall report the Officer-in-Charge of Dhantala Police Station at 10:00 AM so that the concerned Officer shall make arrangements for adequate police protection for them to go to the Bahirgachi Gram Panchayat Office for formation of Board.

The respondent authorities shall maintain a sharp vigil at the locale and ensure that no breach of peace takes place.

Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order be supplied to the parties, if applied for, as early as possible. (Jay Sengupta, J.)