Jayanta Barman And ANR v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS

09.07.2025

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Item No.24 CIRCUIT BENCH AT JALPAIGURI Ct. No. 4 KB WPA/1277/2025 JAYANTA BARMAN AND ANR VS THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Mr. Subhasish Misra, Mr. Satyajit Paul, Ms. Shreya Sarkar ...for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Joyjit Choudhury, Mr. Sumit Kumar, Ms. Rima Sarkar ...for the State.

The petitioner is aggrieved by the detention of the petitioner's vehicle by the forest authorities. From a letter dated March 20, 2025 appended at page 28 of the writ petition, it appears that the petitioner had been called for a hearing by the Forest Officer, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts and Additional Forest Officer, Jaldapara Wildlife Division, Cooch Behar on April 3, 2025.

It is submitted by the petitioner that the petitioner participated in the hearing held in terms of the letter dated March 20, 2025, but the decision in respect of such hearing has not yet been communicated to the petitioner.

It is submitted on behalf of the respondent State authorities that a further notice of hearing was issued fixing the hearing on July 7, 2025. Learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that no such notice was received by the petitioner.

Having heard the learned Advocates appearing for the respective parties and having considered the material on record, this Court is of the view that there is no scope for this Court to intervene at this stage under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

WPA No. 1277 of 2025 is therefore disposed of by directing the respondent authorities to conclude the proceeding initiated by them in respect of the petitioner's vehicle bearing registration No. WB 71B/8661 expeditiously upon giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and by passing a reasoned order preferably within four weeks from the date of communication of this order.

(Om Narayan Rai, J.)