Prahlad Roy v. The Commissioner, Whorah Municipal Corporation And ORS

12.03.2024 d.p.

In The High Court At Calcutta Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction Appellate Side WPA 28001 of 2023 Prahlad Roy -versus The Howrah Municipal Corporation & Ors.

Mr. Kartick Kumar Bhattacharya, Ms. Soumashree Dutta.

...For the Petitioner.

Mr. Tanmoy Mukherjee, Mr. Souvik Das, Mr. K.R. Ahmed, Mr. Rudranil Das.

...For the Respondent No.4.

Mr. Sandipan Banerjee, Mr. Santanu Chatterjee.

...For HMC.

Mr. Janardan Mandal.

...For the State.

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

The petitioner complains of illegal and unauthorized construction at the behest of the private respondent at 1, Andul Road, Borough-VI under jurisdiction of the Howrah Municipal Corporation. Objection against such unauthorized construction is pending consideration.

Learned advocate appearing for the private respondent denies the allegation of the petitioner. It has been submitted that the construction in question is a

very old one. It is a G+1 storied structure. A mobile phone tower has been installed atop the said building after obtaining no objection from the competent authority.

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 Commissioner, Howrah Municipal Corporation or his delegate 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. A spot inspection shall be conducted to ascertain the nature and extent of unauthorized construction. 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.

Learned advocate appearing for the petitioner is directed to forward a copy of the representation dated 9th August, 2023 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.)