Dr.Ajai Kumar Sonkar (Padma Shri) v. The Union Of India And Others
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
[ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] ...
WPA/305/2024 Dr. Ajai Kumar Sonkar (Padma Shri) ... Petitioner Vs.
Union of India & Ors. ... Respondents Mr. Manas Ajai Sonkar ...for the Petitioner (Through Virtual Mode) Mr. Shatadru Chakraborty Mr. Dibesh Dwivedi ...for the Respondents July 03, 2024 (M.A.Mobin) Item No.8 The petitioner in the present case claims to be a renowned scientist and researcher in the field of marine pearl culture. The petitioner along with two other persons had formed a company by the name of M/s Pearlescent Maritech Private Limited. The respondent authorities had granted licence dated 09.10.2002 to the said company for carrying out the marine pearl culture project and had also allotted land for the said purpose. However, later vide order dated 25.06.2019, the respondent authority cancelled the said licence and redeemed the land in question. M/s Pearlescent Maritech Private Limited challenged the said action of the Administration in WPA No. 3052 of 2020. The Learned Single Judge vide order dated 19.12.2022 dismissed the said Writ Petition. M/s Pearlescent Maritech
Private Limited filed an intra Court appeal by way of MAT 3 of 2024 and the Hon'ble Division Bench vide order dated 12.4.2024 dismissed the said appeal. While disposing the said appeal the Hon'ble Division Bench noted that the petitioner herein is not part of M/s Pearlescent Maritech Private Limited as he ceased to be a director in the said company.
It is the case of the petitioner that he has applied for grant of a licence to the Port Management Board for 100 Sq. Mtrs. in the North Bay area for pearl culture operations vide application dated 23.03.2023. However, the said application is still pending with the authorities. Petitioner states that he had submitted a representation dated 09.5.2024 to the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman, praying for grant of a licence for his pearl culture activities and research on the said 2.00 hectares of land. However, both the application/representation are still pending. The petitioner has preferred the present Writ Petition seeking early disposal of his application dated 23.03.2023 and the representation dated 09.5.2024.
This Court has heard arguments advanced by the learned Counsel for the petitioner as well as the respondents and has also perused the records. The earlier licence for the said land was given to Pearlescent Maritech Private Limited and that the petitioner seizes to be the Director of the said Company.
upheld by the Hon'ble Division Bench vide order dated 12.4.2024.
Learned Counsel for the respondents, at the outset states that he has no difficulty in considering the application as well as the representation of the petitioner. In view of the concession made by the learned Counsel for the respondents, the petitioner does not wish to press the present Writ Petition.
In terms of the concession made by the learned counsel for the respondents this Court directs the respondents to consider the application/representation of the petitioner and the same shall be decided by way of a speaking order within a period of 8 weeks after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner from the date of communication of this order in accordance with law. With the above direction the present Writ Petition is disposed of.
Parties to act on a server copy of this order duly collected from the official website of the Hon'ble High Court at Calcutta.
(Gaurang Kanth, J.)