Arif Mohammad And ANR v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

29.02.2024.

Court No. 13 Item No. 119 ap W.P.A. No. 20977 of 2023 Arif Mohammad & Anr.

Versus

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Koustav Bagchi, Mr. Debayan Ghosh, Ms. Priti Kar.

...For the petitioners.

Mr. Arjun Roy Mukherjee, Ms. Jyotsna Roy Mukherjee.

...For the State.

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

2. The petitioners were appointed by the Gram Panchayat as Pump Operators under Tejsinghapur Benipur Water Supply Scheme.

3. The petitioners claim that they have not been paid remuneration for the period that they have worked.

4. Counsel for the State has filed a report dated 13th September, 2023 and has also submitted instructions before this Court. The same are kept with the records.

5. It is submitted that with effect from 18th October, 2022, the PHE Department has taken over the management and operation of the said water supply facility including the pumps and have entrusted the same to an individual agency and the Water Supply Scheme is no longer under the Gram Panchayat.

6. In that view of the matter, the petitioners cannot maintain any claim against the PHE Department for recovery of their dues. For the purpose of recovery of any dues from the Gram Panchayat, the petitioners may take out any separate proceedings in accordance with law.

7. With the aforesaid directions, the instant writ petition shall stand disposed of without any orders.

8. There will be no order as to costs.

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

(Rajasekhar Mantha, J.)