Arghendu Pal Choudhury v. Ranaghat Municipality And ORS.

23.12.2022 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side W.P.A 25576 of 2022 Arghendu Pal Choudhury -versus Ranaghat Municipality & Ors.

Mr. Sunny Nandy, Mr. Anand Jha, Mr. Tamal Singha Roy.

...For the Petitioner.

Mr. Partha Chakraborty.

...For the Respondent No.8.

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

None appears on behalf of the Ranaghat Municipality in spite of service.

The petitioner complains that the private respondents constructed additional floors without obtaining any sanction from Ranaghat Municipality. The petitioner alleges that the objection filed against such unauthorized construction has not been considered till date.

Learned advocate appearing for the private respondents denies the allegation of the petitioner.

It has been submitted that the construction has been made strictly in accordance with the plan sanctioned.

In view of the order that I propose to pass, none of the parties will be prejudiced if the writ petition is disposed of in the following manner.

As it appears that the representation of the petitioner objecting to the illegal and unauthorized construction is pending consideration at the end of the respondent authorities, no useful purpose will be served by keeping the writ petition pending.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of by directing the respondent no.3 being the Board of Councillors, Ranaghat Municipality to consider and dispose of the representation made by the petitioner strictly in accordance with law, after giving an opportunity of hearing to all the necessary parties including the petitioner within a period of three months from the date of communication of a copy of this order. The said respondent shall pass a reasoned order and communicate the same to all the necessary parties including the petitioner immediately thereafter. In the event the aforesaid respondent is of the considered opinion that the construction has been made either in violation of the plan sanctioned or devoid the sanction plan, then necessary steps shall be taken to deal with such unauthorized construction, in accordance with law.

The aforesaid respondent shall restrict the consideration of the representation with regard to unauthorized construction only and not enter into or

decide any private dispute of the parties regarding right, title and interest in respect of the aforesaid land. It is made clear that this Court has not entered into the merits of the claim made by the petitioner and all points are left open to be decided by the aforesaid respondent at the time of consideration of the representation of the petitioner.

The petitioner is directed to forward a copy of the representation dated 22nd July, 2022 to the aforesaid respondent at the time of communicating the order of the Court.

The writ petition stands disposed of.

Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.

( Amrita Sinha, J.)