Sikha Hati v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

16.04.2025 Ct. No.7 Sl. No.6 akd W. P. A. 19709 of 2022 [Sikha Hati -Vs- The State of West Bengal& Ors.] Mr. Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay Mr. Pronay Basak ... ... for the petitioner Mr. Susanta Pal Ms. Ananya Neogi ... for respondent nos.6 to 10 Mr. Nilotpal Chatterjee Mr. S. Adak ... ... for the State 1.

Supplementary affidavit filed on behalf of the petitioner is taken on record.

2.

The widow of the late Public Prosecutor of the District Judge's Court, Purba Bardhaman, has approached this Court seeking a direction upon the District Magistrate, Purba Bardhaman, to disburse the outstanding amount towards his appearance fees for the various cases in which he had represented the State. She prays that the disbursement be made upon completion of all requisite formalities, including verification of the relevant work registers.

3.

Mr. Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay, learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner, refers to a supplementary affidavit which includes a communication dated 07.09.2022 addressed to the petitioner by the District Judge, Purba Bardhaman. In the said communication, the petitioner was informed that 44 work registers submitted for verification had been duly signed by the

respective Presiding Officers and were subsequently returned to the petitioner.

4.

It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the verified work registers have already been submitted to the District Magistrate, Purba Bardhaman. While part payment has been made, the entire outstanding amount has not yet been cleared. The learned Advocate for the petitioner, therefore, prays for an appropriate direction to ensure that the petitioner receives payment of entire outstanding amount.

5.

Mr. Nilotpal Chatterjee, learned Advocate appearing for the State-respondents, submits that if the process of verification has been duly completed, there should be no impediment in directing the District Magistrate, Purba Bardhaman to release the remaining outstanding payment.

6.

Mr. Susanta Pal, learned Advocate representing the respondent nos.6 to 10 counters with the submission made by Mr. Nilotpal Chatterjee, learned Advocate representing the State. 7.

In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of, directing the District Magistrate, Purba Bardhaman, to release the outstanding payments in favour of the petitioner, which have been duly verified by the learned District Judge, Purba Bardhaman. It is further clarified that the District Magistrate shall disburse the amounts in respect of the work verified either by the concerned Presiding Officer or by the learned District Judge. Such payment shall be made positively within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 8.

With these observations and order, this writ petition is disposed of.

9.

There shall be no order as to costs.

10.

Let urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties on usual undertaking. (Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, J.)