Sanjit Sarkar v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Sl. No.12.

09.12.2025 Suman Ct. 15 WPA 25475 of 2025 Sanjit Sarkar Vs.

The State of West Bengal and Ors.

Mr. Shahan Shah ..for the petitioner Mr. Vivekananda Bose Mr. Kushal Das ..for the State Let the instructions filed by the State be kept with the records.

The petitioner claims to be a member of the Karimpur-I Gram Panchayat, Nadia. It is alleged that the said Gram Panchayat has been "splitting works" to avoid the e-tender process in respect of various development projects within its jurisdiction. Learned counsel for the petitioner has drawn the attention of this Court to the Office Order dated July 18, 2018, appearing at page 15 of the writ petition, to contend that such splitting of works is ordinarily prohibited and may be undertaken only in exceptional circumstances. He further relies on various annexures to demonstrate how the value of work orders was deliberately brought below Rs.

1,00,000/- by splitting different works solely to avoid the e-tendering requirement.

Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that despite such alleged irregularities, the work orders are presently being executed by the agencies appointed by the Panchayat. He further prays for an order restraining the Panchayat from resorting to such splitting of works in future. Mr. Vivekananda Bose, learned counsel for the State, submits on instructions that, in respect of the relevant work orders, a report was called for from the Panchayat, and upon consideration of the documents submitted, the Panchayat Department of the State Government was satisfied with the reasons furnished for splitting the work orders. It is further submitted that splitting of work orders is not absolutely prohibited under the Memo dated January 16, 2024, and that such action may be undertaken with the approval of the competent authority.

The State asserts that such approval was duly obtained and that the work orders have already been executed by the concerned persons/agencies. In view of the above, I find no justification for interference. I am not inclined to pass any further order in this writ petition.

Accordingly, WPA 25475 of 2025 is disposed of.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the learned advocates for the parties on usual undertakings.

(Kausik Chanda, J.)