Chandra Shekhar Mandal v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

16.11.2022 Sl. No.35(DL) srm W.P.A. No. 24129 of 2022 Chandra Shekhar Mandal & Ors.

Versus

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Pankaj Halder ....for the Petitioners.

Mr. Lalit Mohan Mahata, Mr. P.B. Mahata ...for the State-respondents.

Mr. Kunal Ganguly, Mr. Tirupati Mukherjee ...for the Respondent No.9.

Mr. Samarjit Blial ...for the Respondent No.10.

It appears that the parties are at loggerheads over the running of Akandabaria Gram Panchayat within the District of Malda. The petitioners claim to represent the majority members of the concerned gram panchayat. It is submitted that the Pradhan of the gram panchayat has not been calling meetings for preparation and approval of the annual budget for the financial year 2022-23. It is submitted that as the annual budget has not yet been prepared, funds have not been disbursed and all the developmental work in the locality, have come to a standstill.

The learned Advocate for the Pradhan submits that the meetings were called, but the petitioners did not participate. Such contention is disputed by the petitioners. The learned Advocate for the respondent No.10/Upa-Pradhan also submits that the Pradhan has not been cooperating with the other members.

However, these allegations are not gone into and the correctness of the same are not analyzed by this Court for the present.

Mr.

Mahata, learned Additional Government Pleader, submits that unless a budget is prepared and approved by the gram panchayat and placed before the prescribed authority, funds cannot be sanctioned by the Government.

Under such circumstances, it is directed that the Pradhan shall convene a meeting in accordance with law. The members shall participate in the meeting. If the members do not participate in the meeting to be called by the Pradhan pursuant to the direction of this Court, in that event, the petitioners cannot raise further allegation in this regard, in future.

Mr. Mahata assures that the order of this Court will be complied with by the concerned Block Development Officer within four weeks from date.

The writ petition is, thus, disposed of.

There shall be no order as to costs.

Parties are to act on the basis of the server copy of this order.

(Shampa Sarkar, J.)