Sunil Kumar Singh v. State Of West Bengal And ORS

OD-2 ORDER SHEET WPO/1172/2024

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction ORIGINAL SIDE SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

VERSUS

STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

BEFORE:

The Hon'ble JUSTICE RAI CHATTOPADHYAY Date : 10th December, 2024.

Appearance:

Mr. Sankar Nath Mukherjee, Adv.

Mr. Niraj Gupta, Adv.

Ms. Manisha Paswan, Adv.

... for the petitioner Mr. Naba Kumar Das, Adv.

Ms. Rajyashree Mukherjee, Adv.

...for the State The Court: The petitioner is a permanent stage carriage permit-holder operating on the inter-State route from Dhanbad to Raniganj. The permit issuing authority, i.e., the State Transport Authority, Jharkhand has permitted him to modify the provisional timetable, as was approved to him earlier in connection with his permit as above. In this inter-State route, modification of the provisional timetable in favour of the writ petitioner is required to be countersigned by the reciprocating authority in West Bengal, i.e., the State Transport Authority, West Bengal. Therefore, requesting the STA, West Bengal, a letter dated November 26, 2024 has been written by the Secretary, STA, Jharkhand for granting countersignature to the modified provisional timetable, as approved in favour of the writ petitioner.

This writ petition is by the petitioner ventilating his grievance that such request of the Secretary, State Transport Authority, Jharkhand, vide letter dated November 26, 2024, is yet to be considered by the reciprocating STA, West Bengal.

Mr. Mukherjee for the petitioner seeks that a direction be made upon the STA, West Bengal/ respondent nos. 2, 3 and 4 to immediately grant countersignature in terms of prayer made in the letter dated November 26, 2024.

The State is also represented.

Learned Advocate appearing for the State would not object to such a direction, if passed.

Heard submissions. Perused the record.

It appears that the modified timetable has already been approved in favour of the writ petitioner by the permit granting authority, i.e., STA, Jharkhand. Pursuant to the reciprocal transport agreement between the two States, the same has to be countersigned by the STA, West Bengal. Therefore, it is found proper to direct the STA, West Bengal/ respondent nos. 2, 3 and 4 to immediately consider and dispose of the prayer made in the letter dated November 26, 2024 as mentioned above within a period of three weeks from the date of communication of a copy of this order.

Needless is to mention that in case it concurs with the decision of the sender of the said letter, it will approve countersignature immediately thereafter.

With the direction as above, WPO/1172/2024 is disposed of.

Since no affidavit has been called for, the allegations made in the writ petition is deemed to have been denied.

(RAI CHATTOPADHYAY , J.) sg.