Siddhartha Hazra And ORS. v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.
Sl.17 11.02.2026 Court No.19 BP WPA 21770 of 2025 Sri Siddhartha Hazra & Ors.
-versus- The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Mr. Sunny Nandy Ms. Oindrila Ghosal Mr. M.S. Roop Roy ..for the petitioners Mr. Soumitra Bandyopadhyay, Sr. Govt. Advocate Mr. Priyabrata Batabyal ..for the State When the attention of the learned advocate for the petitioners was drawn to the fact that the petitioners have sought for issuance of a writ of mandamus commanding the respondent authorities to immediately issue conversion certificate in respect of the land from industrial to residential and an interim order has been sought for in aid of such relief, the learned advocate for the petitioners appearing through virtual mode, on instructions submits that the petitioners have instructed him not to press the relief under paragraph (c) and (e) of the writ petition which reads as follows:
"c) A Writ of and /or in the nature of Mandamus do issue commanding the Respondents authorities to immediately issue Conversion Certificate with respect to the said land from "Industrial" to "Residential" upon fulfillment of all formalities and payment of requisite fees, henceforth;
e) An interim order to immediately issue Conversion Certificate with respect to the said land from "Industrial" to "Residential" upon fulfillment of all formalities and payment of requisite fees, henceforth;"
The learned advocate for the petitioners submits that the Labour Department has not taken any steps for
inspection and for submission of a viability report for the purpose of conversion of the land in question from industrial to residential.
Since the petitioners have restricted their claim only with regard to the inaction on the part of the authorities of the Labour Department in not taking any steps for inspection and for submission of the viability report, the instant writ petition is entertained on that ground alone. Mr. Bandyopadhyay, learned Senior Government Advocate submits that the Assistant Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Labour Department, Land Asset Cell has requested the Deputy Labour Commissioner to arrange for inspection and submission of a viability report in accordance with the S.O.P. issued by the Department in that regard from all aspects regarding conversion of land from Bagan/Viti/Danga/Kharkhana to Kharkhana/ Housing Complex/Commercial Bastu/Bastu. Mr. Bandyopadhyay, learned Senior Government Advocate submits that the Deputy Labour Commissioner shall take steps in terms of the memo dated 4th February, 2025 issued by the Assistant Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, Labour Department within the time limit as may be fixed by this Court.
In the light of the submissions made by the learned advocates for the respective parties, WPA 21770 of 2025 stands disposed of by directing the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Howrah being the 4th respondent to
complete the entire exercise including inspection and submission of viability report as per the directions contained in the letter dated 4th February, 2025 issued by the Government of West Bengal, Labour Department, Land Asset Cell and to forward the same to the appropriate authority as expeditiously as possible but positively by the end of the month of April, 2026. The said respondent shall communicate its decision to the petitioners within the time limit mentioned hereinbefore.
It is, however, made clear that this Court has not gone into the issue with regard to the issuance of conversion certificate.
There shall be however no order as to costs.
Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.
(Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, J.)