Judgment · High Court

In course of hearing, Mr. Banerjee, learned advocate for the Municipality has filed letter no. 4/2665 dated 3.6.2024 as written by Dilip Yadav, Chairman, Uttarpara Kotrung Municipality addressed to 1) Sri Soumitra Bose & Ors. 2) Sri Chandan Sharma 3) Sri Arunabha Bhattacharjee 4) Sri Dilip Kanti Biswas & ors. 5) Sri Suresh Mahato 6) Sri Sudipta Ghosh 7) Smt. Kakali Sengupta stating inter alia that the said Municipality has fixed 18.6.2024 for execution of the decision taken by the Board of Councilors on

29.5.2023 regarding unauthorized construction at holding no. 179, Shibtala Street and as per Section 218 of the West Bengal Municipal Act, 1993 and that such execution shall commence on the said date at 10.30 A.M.

At this stage, learned advocate for the petitioners again draws attention of this court to the page no. 208, 209 and 210 of the writ petition wherefrom it reveals that the board of councilors of the said Municipality had taken a decision in the meeting dated 29.5.2023 to demolish the unauthorized portion of the abovementioned holding within six weeks from the date of receipt of the said order and with the said order, this court finds the sketch map prepared by the said Municipality with regard to the unauthorised construction beyond sanction in the said holding.

At this stage, learned advocate for the private respondent no. 8 submits before this court that an opportunity may be given to his client to approach the appellate forum challenging the said decision of the board of councilors. It is further submitted on behalf of the learned advocate for the private respondent no. 8 that from the private respondent no. 8, the said municipality is accepting occupiers’ taxes and other charges respect of the alleged unauthorized construction of the said holding.

It is settled principle of law that though a right to property is a Constitutional right but no such right accrues in favour of the respondent no. 8 especially when it is found by the board of councilors of the said municipality that the said construction is totally illegal.

In view of such, this court finds no cogent reason to tie up the hands of the municipality in the proposed execution of demolition.

In view of the discussions made hereinabove and while disposing the writ petition, this court directs the respondent nos. 2 to 5 to carry out the work of demolition on and from 18.6.2024 of the unauthorized construction at holding no.179, of Shibtala Street and to continue the same till entire unauthorized construction demolished to its fullest extent.

Liberty is given to the respondent no. 3 i.e. Chairman, Uttarpara Kotrung Municipality to seek police assistance from the Inspector-in- charge, Uttarpara Police Station under the Chandannagar Police Commissionarate well in advance, in the event he apprehends any breach of peace and/or any resistence either from the private respondents or from any other interested and not interested person.

In the event, the police help is sought for by the respondent no. 3 i.e. Chairman, Uttarpara Kotrung Municipality both the Commissioner of Police, Chandannagar Police Commissionarate as well as I.C. Uttarpara P.S., District. Hooghly are hereby directed to provide adequate police personnel on the said day and hour and also on the subsequent days. It is also made clear that entire cost of demolition of illegal construction and the cost of obtaining police help shall have to be recovered from the persons responsible for making such illegal construction afterwards by initiating appropriate certificate proceedings.

Urgent Photostat certified copy of this order, duly applied for, be given to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities. (Partha Sarathi Sen, J.)