Riya Sil Sharma v. The State Of West Bengal And ORS.
23.09.2024 Court No. 2 Sl. No.53 KB Calcutta High Court In the Circuit Bench at Jalpaiguri Appellate Jurisdiction W.P.A. 1979 of 2024 Riya Sil Sharma -versus The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Mr. Bikramaditya Ghosh Mr. Deborshi Dhar ...For the Petitioner.
Mr. Subir Kumar Saha, AGP Mr. Sumit Kumar ...For the State.
The petitioner's prayer seeking Long Term Settlement in respect of certain plots of land is pending consideration before the Block Land & Land Reforms Officer, Rajganj, Jalpaiguri.
The application filed by the petitioner annexed to the writ petition mentions about obtaining patta of the subject land which the petitioner and her family is occupying for nearly the last two decades.
The petitioner submits that the application for patta may be treated as an application seeking Long Term Settlement and be considered by the authority. Learned advocate representing the State respondents has obtained instruction from the Additional Magistrate and the District Land and Land
Reforms Officer, Jalpaiguri which mentions that the petitioner is in physical possession of the subject land since 1998. The land is vested to the State. There is no formal application made by the petitioner seeking Long Term Settlement.
The instant writ petition is disposed of by directing the Block Land and Land Reforms Officer, Rajganj to take into consideration the petitioner's prayer for Long Term Settlement in accordance with the prevailing rules and guidelines of the State and dispose of the same at the earliest but positively within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.
If the authority is of the opinion that Long Term Settlement may be granted, then the necessary follow up steps to be taken by the petitioner shall be intimated to her.
As the petitioner is in occupation of the subject land since 1998, the authority shall not take any coercive steps against the petitioner till 31st December, 2024.
The writ petition stands disposed of.
Urgent certified photocopy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of usual legal formalities.
( Amrita Sinha, J.)