Sanjay Kumar Gupta (Huf) v. Howrah Municipal Corporation And ORS.

13.08.2025 Ct. No.3 Sl. No.23 akd W. P. A. 29888 of 2024 [Sanjay Kumar Gupta (HUF) -Vs- The Howrah Municipal Corporation & Ors.] Mr. Tanmoy Mukherjee Mr. Souvik Das Mr. K. R. Ahmed Mr. Rudranil Das ... ... for the petitioner Mr. Sandipan Banerjee Mr. Ankit Sureka ... ... for the HMC 1.

Report in the form of affidavit filed on behalf of the Howrah Municipal Corporation is taken on record. 2.

It appears from the report that the petitioner had sought demolition of the old structure vide application dated 12.12.2023. By dint of a reasoned order dated 20.09.2024, the petitioner was granted permission to demolish the dilapidated, ruinous and dangerous building. By virtue of the said order, the petitioner's prayer for submission of Offline building plan was not granted since Online building plan sanction is in force since 01.09.2022. The respondent-Howrah Municipal Corporation has relied on a notification dated 31.12.2024 issued by the UDMA Department, Government of West Bengal, wherein it has been notified that the only process for sanctioning building plan would be SWS-OBPAS and complete discontinuation of Offline building plan approval from 01.01.2025.

3.

In view of the said report, the petitioner submits that his Online application for building plan sanction was not accepted for non-fulfillment of the following grounds :- a) His outstanding property tax has not been paid;

b) The record of rights still reflect the name of the erstwhile seller in the records maintained by the B.L.& L.R.O.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that his client shall overcome the said objections and apply Online thereafter. He contends that the petitioner is not aware of the outstanding property tax dues and the same has not been communicated to him. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner will take necessary steps to seek such information from the respondent-Howrah Municipal Corporation.

5.

The petitioner is directed to make representation before the Howrah Municipal Corporation within a period of two weeks from the date of passing of this order. In case, the petitioner makes a representation for providing him information regarding his outstanding property tax, the respondent-Howrah Municipal Corporation is directed to provide such information to him within a period of four weeks from the date of submission of the said representation.

6.

Accordingly, this Court is of the view that if the aforesaid timeline is followed by the petitioner, the respondent-Howrah Municipal Corporation shall abide by the directions of this Court and necessary information shall be supplied to the petitioner within the time stipulated hereinabove.

7.

In view of the above, learned counsel for the petitioner does not wish to press the present writ petition at present. 8.

The writ petition is disposed of, in terms of the above directions.

9.

There shall be no order as to costs.

10.

Let urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties on usual undertaking. (Gaurang Kanth, J.)